Leicester will seal their maiden top-flight title if they win three of their next five games, while Spurs are chasing a first league title since 1961.
The Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) do not pick Friend, who lives in Leicester, to oversee Foxes' games, but do not usually consider factors such as a referee officiating a game that could have implications for the club he supports.
"Kevin Friend, initially selected for the game, is from Leicester and has attended matches at Leicester City in a personal capacity," a statement to the Daily Mail said.
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"Given the context of this match, it was felt unnecessary to add extra scrutiny on the refereeing appointment."
(This story has been refiled to say Monday in second paragraph)
(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
