Uefa turns down Sevilla cup plea

Uefa have turned down a request from Spanish side Sevilla to move their Uefa Cup quarter-final first leg tie against Spurs from Thursday 5 April.

Sevilla wanted to change the fixture as there is a clash with a religious festival, but Uefa rejected them.

"Uefa could not agree to moving matches based on circumstances related to festivities or other kinds of local events," said a Uefa statement.

Sevilla are the holders after they beat Middlesbrough in last year's final.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the decision

The date coincides with a major festival, with floats, processions and more than a million people attending.

But Uefa added: "The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had asked Uefa about the possibility of playing the game on another date, as 5 April is Maundy Thursday, a day of religious significance.

"In its reply to the RFEF, Uefa said it recognised the importance of the day and acknowledged that many visitors would be travelling to Seville.

"However, it explained that as a pan-European confederation, it was confronted with similar circumstances from time to time

"Uefa pointed out that it had also had to decline previous requests of this nature, and added that no different solution would be available because alternative dates were occupied."