Conte questions ‘strange’ PL postponements after Arsenal clash was called off

ANTONIO CONTE has described the Premier League’s policy on postponements as ‘strange’.

The Tottenham boss believes matches should be called off only for Covid cases – and not injuries.

Spurs were angry Prem chiefs sanctioned Arsenal’s request to postpone Sunday’s North London derby due to a lack of available players.

Conte, speaking ahead of his club’s rearranged trip to Leicester on Wednesday night, said: “This is the first time in my life that there is a league that postpones the game for injuries.

“This is very strange and I’m very surprised by this.

“When there is the situation to play we have to play and not to postpone games for injuries or international duty.

“I think that we have a big problem to solve that is Covid. But only about this situation can you decide to postpone.

“For other situations honestly this is the first time in my life – and I think I have a bit of experience in football – to see this type of decision and it was very strange because this way everything can happen.”

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Tottenham were originally due to travel to Leicester last month but the clash was postponed due to Covid cases in the Foxes camp.

Spurs were furious as they had previously asked for the match to be cancelled so they could play their final Europa Conference League group clash against Rennes – which had been called off due to a coronavirus outbreak in the Tottenham squad.

But the Premier League refused and Uefa awarded Rennes a 3-0 victory which meant Spurs were eliminated from Europe’s third competition.

Conte added: “It was a big damage to Tottenham from the Premier League. You have to protect your team and they penalised us in a bad way.

“We are working and we have passion for football and like to do this but they have to show respect for our clubs and our jobs.”

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