Spurs appeal rejected

That allowed Arsenal to take fourth place in the Premier League and pip their north London rivals to the last Champions League qualifying spot thanks to their 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic.

Before Sunday's kickoff Spurs had requested the game be postponed for a day but were offered only a two-hour delay by league officials.

The Premier League published a copy of a lengthy letter it sent in the name of chief executive Peter Scudamore to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on its website on Wednesday.

It said that the league's board was sympathetic to Tottenham's problem but "has to take a dispassionate view, independent of clubs' opinion, in order to protect the overall integrity of the League competition."

The letter went on: "The fact that so much may have been riding on one game is not as a consequence of just last Sunday's results but is the product of 380 games played throughout an entire nine-month season. Speculation about what may have happened in different circumstances even within our league is inappropriate and, in other competitions, irrelevant.

"As always, the Board can only deal with the facts on an individual basis and deal with any situation as and when presented. All those directly involved on the day acted in the utmost good faith and with due care in what were unusual circumstances."

The board accepted that six Spurs players had been suffering from sickness and diarrhoea but that of those six only two had been in the starting team in the team's last three league matches and that, including youth players, Spurs had 53 players to choose from for the fixture.

The letter also went over the events of last Sunday and stressed that Tottenham had the option not to fulfil the fixture and take their chances in the subsequent Premier League enquiry.

"In summary, the board having considered the contents of your letter carefully, finds no grounds for acceding to your request for a replay."

It added: "We remain very sympathetic to the unenviable position you found yourselves in...however we believe we expedited our responsibilities effectively and with due care and consideration based on the facts available to us.

"We of course realise that for THFC a feeling of unfairness at the ill fated events of last Sunday will linger but trust that you will put this behind you and concentrate on domestic and UEFA Cup success next season."