Spurs apologise to fans over delay to new stadium

TOTTENHAM Hotspur have said sorry to their supporters and announced details of a compensation package after two additional home fixtures were moved to Wembley Stadium because of problems with their new ground’s safety systems.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side had expected to play their first game at the new £850m stadium on September 15 against Liverpool, but confirmed late on Monday that the match will now be played at Wembley.

The club’s following home game, against Cardiff City on October 6, has also been moved, as has an NFL fixture between the Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders the following week.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust demanded “fair compensation” after news of the delay was made public, with fans already having paid significantly increased prices for their season tickets at the new stadium.

And in a second statement published yesterday, the club apologised to supporters while confirming refunds would be made available.

The s t atement r ead: “We should like to apologise to supporters for this delay. We are acutely aware of the disappointment this may cause supporters and shall now look to ensure that we minimise any inconvenience.

“As two further matches of the new season will be played at Wembley — on Saturday, September 15 against Liverpool, kick-off 12.30pm, and on Saturday, October 6 against Cardiff City, kickoff 3pm — all those who have purchased season tickets at the new stadium will be credited 1/19th of the price you have paid for your 2018-19 season ticket for each fixture concerned.

“Full refund amounts for both Liverpool and Cardiff City will be placed into your eticket account automatically in the coming days. To improve on the process used for the Fulham fixture, these funds can either be drawn out from your eticket account by way of a monthly BACS payment or the funds can be held in credit in your account to be used as part payment for next season’s season ticket.”

There remains no clarification over Tottenham’s home match against champions Manchester City, currently scheduled for October 28, the same day an NFL tie is due to be held at Wembley.

The club remain in conversation with Uefa over where they will play their Champions League matches this season.

Competition rules dictate that a club “in principle” should play all of their matches at one venue. The group stage draw takes place on August 30.

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Serie A club Milan have confirmed the deal for Bakayoko, who joined Chelsea from Monaco last summer for £40m, could be turned into a permanent move.

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