Spurs ask to replay West Ham game

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:32 pm

There's no way this will happen surely??

Tottenham have written to the Premier League to ask if they can replay Sunday's game against West Ham.
Ten Tottenham players were hit by food poisoning before the 2-1 defeat, which ended Spurs' hopes of playing in next year's Champions League.

"Our match at West Ham was effectively a cup final," said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy in an open letter to Premier League chairman Dave Richards.

"Our chances were significantly reduced by the exceptional circumstances."

Levy added that Tottenham's cause was supported by other clubs and he was expecting to be granted a replay.

He added: "We now have confirmation from a majority of Premier League clubs that they would support a replay and in similar circumstances would expect the game to have been postponed.

"We therefore formally request that you order that the game be replayed."

Tottenham needed to match Arsenal's result against Wigan to finish above their rivals and secure fourth spot in the league as well as an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League.

But defeat combined with Arsenal's 4-2 win over Wigan left Spurs in fifth and a place in the Uefa Cup instead.

The Premier League told Spurs they could delay the match until later in the day to give their players time to recover from illness, but the police said they would not sanction a kick-off time after 1700 BST - only two hours after the game was due to begin.

Spurs could have gone ahead and postponed the game until another day, but they would have risked Premier League sanctions, including a points penalty.

BBC Sport understands that because Spurs opted to play the game instead of postponing it and then arguing their case at a hearing, they will not be granted a replay.

The Premier League has said it will discuss the contents of Levy's letter at a meeting on Wednesday.

But a spokesman said: "Tottenham fulfilled their fixture and as far as the Premier League is concerned the result stands."

But Levy believes the Premier League was "inconsistent in its approach".

"In being given no viable option to postpone the match other than a two-hour delay to kick-off, our players were denied the possible opportunity of competing in the Champions League," he said.

"Also, our fans have been left with a sense of suspicion and injustice at the way subsequent events unfolded.

"We played the game with players who were unwell but who were desperate not to let their fans and colleagues down.

"Clearly, our governing body put us in an impossible situation and gave a significant advantage to Arsenal in competing for that fourth position.

"The Premier League was inconsistent in its approach in being prepared to consider the kick-off to be delayed but not allowing the match to be played on a different day."

Food samples from the Marriott Hotel in east London where Spurs stayed before the West Ham game are being tested by health authorities.

An official criminal investigation has not been launched.

crazee · Post by **crazee** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:39 pm

it shouldn't really happen, but im guessing if the crimal investgation does turn some thing up i wouldn't be too shocked if it did

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:53 pm

When would they replay it tho? would be great if they won the replay and took Arsenals place in the CL!

squiz18 · Post by **squiz18** » Tue May 09, 2006 4:07 pm

Get over it totenham, over the season arsenal were the better team.

Post by **loudnproud** » Tue May 09, 2006 4:21 pm

football gone mad again!!! Learn a lesson spurs...as a song goes..."Dont eat all the pies! Dont eat all the pies!!"

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Tue May 09, 2006 4:47 pm

What I cant understand is why did spurs have to stay in a hotel overnight when there playing a game in their own city?

Post by **Dazza** » Tue May 09, 2006 4:50 pm

Phil wrote:What I cant understand is why did spurs have to stay in a hotel overnight when there playing a game in their own city?

This is something I dont understand either.

Serves them right for having too much money!

TODD66 · Post by **TODD66** » Tue May 09, 2006 5:01 pm

It will never happen, but if someone should be contemplating such lunacy

then it is probably best they wait until next Thursday - if Arsenal win it all becomes academic

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Tue May 09, 2006 5:40 pm

TODD66 wrote:It will never happen, but if someone should be contemplating such lunacy then it is probably best they wait until next Thursday - if Arsenal win it all becomes academic

not strictly true, for every place higher you finish in the PL you receive 500k so it'd be worth 500k to Spurs.

Kheffan · Post by **Kheffan** » Tue May 09, 2006 5:57 pm

i'm amazed than with so much money invested in the players that they would entertain the fact to let anyone else cook for them.

why i dont think it should be replayed.

too unfair on Arsenal . i'm sure Spurs knowing what they have do will make it easier for them

and also it would have been unfair to West Ham so close to the FA cup final

and finally i believe FIFA/UEFA have a ruling due to the World Cup. all domestic fixtures in the premiership have to be concluded before the 15th may.

toby · Post by **toby** » Tue May 09, 2006 7:26 pm

Phil wrote:What I cant understand is why did spurs have to stay in a hotel overnight when there playing a game in their own city?

Most top clubs do this so that all the players are in one place and, ironically, their diets, sleep etc can be controlled by the manager.

vaalae · Post by **vaalae** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:11 pm

Bet they won't be staying at that hotel again

It wont happen, these things happen its life and unfortunate but get over it.

The game should have been postponed but there was too much red tape for that to happen - why should West Ham replay it, they won. Can we play Brighton again please cos there was something very wrong with our players that day!!??

N1blue · Post by **N1blue** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:41 am

The idea that it should be replayed is absolutely ridiculous. The illness happened overnight. Spurs have a big enough first team squad that they could have got plenty of other fit players to the game, about five miles down the road, if they'd spent their time doing that rather than just protesting. And why should their be one rule for food poisoning and another for injuries? For several weeks, Arsenal had seven out of their eight first team squad defenders missing - 5 injured (Cole, Clichy, Cygan, Campbell, Lauren) and 2 at the African Nations (Toure, Eboue), let alone players in other positions also absent. Did anybody suggest their games should be postponed? With the FA Cup on Saturday and players going off straight away to the World Cup, plus the principle that all the games are supposed to be played simultaneously on the last day of the season, so nobody gets an unfair advantage, just when should the game be replayed. Of course it's tough on Spurs but they should stop bleating, the same way Wenger should not have moaned on about Spurs goal in the derby game when they scored with Arsenal players injured.

1978greats · Post by **1978greats** » Wed May 10, 2006 6:55 am

If they get the go ahead ...which they wont and IMO shouldn't...then I think we should ask to replay the whole season due to all our injuries

Kheffan · Post by **Kheffan** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:43 pm

toby wrote:
Phil wrote:What I cant understand is why did spurs have to stay in a hotel overnight when there playing a game in their own city?
Most top clubs do this so that all the players are in one place and, ironically, their diets, sleep etc can be controlled by the manager.

well the certainly f*cked up the diet bit then.

Post by **Dazza** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:44 pm

1978greats wrote:If they get the go ahead ...which they wont and IMO shouldn't...then I think we should ask to replay the whole season due to all our injuries

Agreed!

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Spurs ask to replay West Ham game

Spurs ask to replay West Ham game

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