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Fulham boss Scott Parker brands Tottenham fixture rearrangement 'scandalous'

Scott Parker says Premier League proposed rearranging the London derby against Tottenham on Saturday, something he felt was not "realistic"; Jose Mourinho doesn't believe Fulham are hard off playing the game at short notice

Scott Parker Jose Mourinho
Image: Scott Parker and Jose Mourinho are in disagreement over the late rearrangement of Wednesday's Premier League meeting

Fulham manager Scott Parker says it is "scandalous" the Premier League announced Wednesday's rearranged match against Tottenham on Monday.

Spurs were originally due to host Fulham on December 30 before the game was postponed hours before kick-off due to a coronavirus outbreak within Parker's squad - something which had frustrated Jose Mourinho.

With Tottenham's Premier League trip to Aston Villa, scheduled for Wednesday, postponed due to an outbreak in the Villa camp, the Premier League rescheduled the London derby for the same night.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Parker said: "I am angry because it is not right. It is wrong. That is why I am so angry.

He added: "The possibility of playing Spurs on Wednesday came on Saturday.

"We didn't think that was realistic and we were informed Monday morning at 9:30. To confirm that on Monday morning is scandalous. I accept we have to play the game, but it's the notice."

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Fulham manager Scott Parker has criticised the decision to reschedule his side's Premier League match against Tottenham with 48 hours notice

Asked if it was acceptable Fulham had to prepare at short notice for the Wednesday's game, Mourinho replied: "Are you serious? They had 48 hours to prepare for this game.

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"Look, I had the news I was not going to play them two hours before the game started."

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Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho took exception to being asked whether it was unfair on Fulham they were given 48 hours notice that their game would be played

However, Parker disputes Mourinho's comments because he believes it is very different to prepare for a game that doesn't happen than one that does, while he also pointed out that Spurs were already planning for a game midweek.

Fulham's match against Chelsea, originally scheduled for Friday, was pushed back to Saturday as a result of the fixture reshuffle.

"Regarding being told the game is called off 48 hours before or 2 hours before is really an irrelevance," Parker said.

"It's a disappointment you have had a game called off - I understand that. But to have a game called on with 48 hours notice is… I don't want to get into that regarding Jose but I think he will know all too well that obviously you plan for one game or the other.

"Tottenham knew they had this fixture in. Jose's team selection at the weekend suggested that. He planned for the next however many games they have got, and they have got a lot granted."

Mourinho, whose side have three games to rearrange in an already busy schedule, argues the league took a "positive solution" in rearranging the game against Fulham for Wednesday amid the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

He added: "The biggest impact is to have matches postponed. The changing of the order, the impact is I would say minimal, because in the end you have to play 19 matches at home, 19 away. You have to play two matches against every team."

Fulham played their first game since December 26 as they overcame QPR in the FA Cup on Saturday following the Covid-19 outbreak at the club, and Parker is concerned about the decisions regarding player welfare.

"Do I see that this would happen if this was a top of the table clash with two of the biggest teams and managers then probably not and rightly so," he said.

"For me this is not acceptable. It is [about] the integrity of the game, the welfare of the players. We are now putting players into a position here after two days training."

Confirmed Premier League fixtures live on Sky Sports

Tue Jan 12: Sheff Utd vs Newcastle - Kick-Off 6pm

Tue Jan 12: Wolves vs Everton - Kick-Off 8.15pm

Thur Jan 14: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace - Kick-Off 8pm

Sat Jan 16: Leeds vs Brighton - Kick-Off 3pm

Sat Jan 16: Fulham vs Chelsea - Kick-Off 5.30pm

Sun Jan 17: Aston Villa vs Everton - Kick-Off 12.00pm

Sun Jan 17: Sheff Utd vs Tottenham - Kick-Off 2pm

Sun Jan 17: Liverpool vs Man Utd - Kick-Off 4.30pm

Sun Jan 17: Man City vs Crystal Palace - Kick-Off 7.15pm

Mon Jan 18: Arsenal vs Newcastle - Kick-Off 8pm

Tue Jan 19: Leicester vs Chelsea - Kick-Off 8.15pm

Wed Jan 20: Leeds vs Southampton - Kick-Off 6pm

Thur Jan 21: Liverpool vs Burnley - Kick-Off 8pm

Sat Jan 30: Arsenal vs Man Utd - Kick-Off 5.30pm

Sat Jan 30: Southampton vs Aston Villa - Kick-Off 8pm

Sun Jan 31: Leicester vs Leeds - Kick-Off 2pm

Sun Jan 31: West Ham vs Liverpool - Kick-Off 4.30pm

Free match highlights on Sky Sports digital

It could not be simpler: we will have free-to-watch match highlights of every Premier League game on the Sky Sports website, app, and the Sky Sports YouTube channel shortly after full-time of every fixture.

In addition, Sky subscribers will also be able to enjoy in-game clips from Sky Sports matches in our Digital match blogs.

Arsenal fixtures | Aston Villa fixtures | Brighton fixtures | Burnley fixtures | Chelsea fixtures | Crystal Palace fixtures | Everton fixtures | Fulham fixtures | Leeds fixtures | Leicester fixtures | Liverpool fixtures | Man City fixtures | Man Utd fixtures | Newcastle fixtures | Sheff Utd fixtures | Southampton fixtures | Tottenham fixtures | West Brom fixtures | West Ham fixtures | Wolves fixtures

Premier League games to be rearranged

Aston Villa vs Newcastle

Aston Villa vs Tottenham

Burnley vs Fulham

Everton vs Man City

Man City vs Southampton

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