Spurs in limbo over UEFA fate

Tottenham must wait until next week to discover whether officials decide to give them a bye into the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, after their scheduled opponents Feyenoord were kicked out of the tournament as punishment for crowd trouble earlier in the season.

Spurs were set to face the Dutch side in Rotterdam on February 15 but could now either be given a bye or possibly face Wisla Krakow, who finished behind Feyenoord in the group stages.

UEFA have hinted at Spurs being given a passage into the last 16, but a spokesman said: "We have not decided what will happen with Tottenham and whether they will receive a bye or play the fourth-placed team from Feyenoord's group."

A bye into the last 16 would mean a loss of revenue from gate receipts and television money for Spurs from their home leg at White Hart Lane, although they will be closer to ending their eight-year wait for a trophy.

It would also give Martin Jol's men more recovery time in their busy schedule, with the club challenging in three cups and pushing for a European place in the Barclays Premiership.

A Spurs spokesman said: "The club is consulting with UEFA to determine what will happen next."

Feyenoord, meanwhile, are considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"We can appeal to the CAS in Lausanne," said club director Onno Jacobs.

"We will look at the verdict and arguments very closely and then we will decide."