Tottenham Fans Protest Against Club Ownership
In a passionate display of discontent, Tottenham Hotspur fans gathered to protest against the club’s ownership by Enic and chairman Daniel Levy prior to their Premier League clash with fellow strugglers Manchester United. Supporters of all ages began assembling at the intersection of Lordship Lane and the Seven Sisters High Road two hours ahead of the match, joining a peaceful march toward Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While the exact numbers were hard to determine, it appeared that well over a thousand fans participated.
Many attendees brought banners to express their grievances. Prominent among them were two large yellow and blue banners that read: “Our Game Is About Glory, Levy’s Game Is About Glory” and “24 Years, 16 Managers, One Trophy – Time For Change.”
The air was filled with the invigorating chants of the crowd, echoing sentiments such as “We want Levy out,” “Daniel Levy, get out of our club,” and “We want our Tottenham back.” These anti-Levy chants were often interspersed with pro-Tottenham songs, reinforcing the fans’ commitment to seeing their club thrive.
One fan, identifying himself as Sot, shared his perspective with The i Paper, stating, “I just think it has got to a point that Ange is one who is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I think everyone’s realised you can’t keep changing the manager and just expect something to be different.” He emphasized the frustration among fans over the club treating them as mere customers rather than passionate supporters. “We pay high season ticket prices and are just treated like customers. People are simply fed up that year after year it’s the profit that takes precedence over the football team,” he added, asserting that Tottenham was a significant club long before Levy’s tenure.
Protests against the club’s ownership have been sporadic since the stadium move in 2019, but they have intensified during a challenging season that threatens to be one of the worst in Enic’s 24-year history. As injuries have plagued the squad, Spurs have found themselves languishing in 15th place in the Premier League table and have been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions. The Europa League now stands as their last hope for silverware this season, which would be only their second under Enic.
The protest was organized by Change For Tottenham, a grassroots group that emerged in late 2021 and has since garnered over 15,000 followers on social media. The group aims to “reclaim our football heritage” and seeks transparency from the board regarding “plans for on-pitch success that rivals ambitions off it.” They encouraged fans to continue voicing their complaints in the stadium concourse before the match and to gather for a sit-in protest at the base of the South Stand after the final whistle.
Fans have grown increasingly disillusioned not only due to the lack of trophies but also because of perceived inadequate investment in the transfer market. Last year, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust launched the “Save our Seniors” campaign in response to the club’s decision to cut concession tickets for over-65s. Additionally, the backlash against the proposed European Super League in 2021 illustrated the deep-seated frustrations among supporters regarding the club’s direction and decision-making.
