Tottenham forfeit Rennes clash to crash out of Conference League

Tottenham have crashed out of the Europa Conference League after UEFA confirmed they have been forced to forfeit their coronavirus-hit clash with Rennes.

Spurs were unable to play the home game after eight players and five members of staff recorded positive tests and the two sides failed to arrange a new date amid a busy schedule.

The matter was sent to UEFA, who awarded the French outfit a 3-0 victory, which will see them through as group winners with Vitesse ahead of Tottenham in second.

Antonio Conte's men could have moved above the Dutch outfit to qualify for the next round of UEFA's new third-tier tournament with a victory.

Spurs won just two of the five Group G games they did play, including a humiliating 2-1 defeat to Slovenian minnows Mura.

The Londoners were also forced to postpone Premier League contests with Leicester and Brighton but returned to action yesterday in a thrilling 2-2 draw with high-flying Liverpool.

They are due to play West Ham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday before the visit of Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

Trips to Southampton and Watford complete a busy festive schedule as Conte looks to build momentum after earning a point against the title-chasing Reds.

Spurs would move above rivals Arsenal into fourth should they win their games in hand after recovering from a nightmare start under former boss Nuno Espirito Santo.