"The Premier League Board has taken the decision to postpone the game following guidance from medical advisers, with the health of players and staff the priority," the Premier League said in a statement
Friday 10 December 2021 08:34, UK
Tottenham's Premier League match against Brighton on Sunday has been postponed after a widespread coronavirus outbreak at the north London club.
Spurs' Europa Conference League match against Rennes was called off on Thursday after eight players and five members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
The Premier League Board granted a request from Tottenham for their match at the Amex Stadium to be rearranged following a meeting on Thursday.
"The Premier League Board has taken the decision to postpone the game following guidance from medical advisers, with the health of players and staff the priority," the Premier League said in a statement.
A date for the rearranged fixture will be announced in due course.
On Wednesday, Spurs head coach Antonio Conte said he was "scared" by the club's ongoing outbreak and described the situation as "serious" which has led to their first-team training centre being closed.
A Spurs statement read: "We should like to apologise to everyone at Stade Rennais and Brighton & Hove Albion and to both their supporters and ours for any inconvenience caused.
"We should also like to thank both clubs for their understanding during these challenging times."
Premier League clubs have reverted to 'emergency Covid protocols' for first-team squads around training grounds and stadiums, which includes social distancing, mask-wearing and treatment no longer than 15 mins per session.
The Premier League will continue to follow Government guidance, with players and staff who test positive needing to isolate for 10 days with no sporting exception.
Spurs, whose game at Burnley at the end of November was postponed due to the weather, now have three games to shoehorn into their schedule.
Their next game is due to be at Leicester on December 16 and they then host Liverpool on December 19 ahead of a home Carabao Cup quarter-final against West Ham three days later.
UEFA rules state that any rearranged Europa Conference League group games have to be played before December 31 but Spurs already have four games in ten days at the end of the month.
Sky Sports understands there is some room for manoeuvre there but another consideration is the winter break in France, which starts on December 22.
A busy month is sure to await Conte's side.
December 16: Leicester vs Tottenham - Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm
December 19: Tottenham vs Liverpool - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
December 22: Tottenham vs West Ham - Carabao Cup, kick-off 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports
December 26: Tottenham vs Crystal Palace - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
December 28: Southampton vs Tottenham - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
January 1: Watford vs Tottenham - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
To be rescheduled:
Burnley vs Tottenham - Premier League
Brighton vs Tottenham - Premier League
Tottenham vs Rennes - Europa Conference League
