Tottenham are reported to be among four Premier League clubs who could pursue Manchester City for compensation, with sources suggesting Spurs might demand up to £200m over lost revenue. Tottenham reserved the right to take legal action back in 2024, a formality that keeps their options open regardless of how long City’s case drags on. Given Tottenham’s finances sit at a ten-year low, a windfall of that size wouldn’t exactly be turned away.
Nothing here is settled money, though. It emerged that an independent panel had found City guilty of all but one of the 115 charges against them, a verdict City deny and are expected to appeal.
Four clubs, one grievance
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham are the four sides said to have served formal notices in 2024, protecting their right to sue if the guilty verdict stood. Representatives of all four have reportedly begun working out how much lost potential income they can claim, with Tottenham said to feel particularly aggrieved after missing out on Champions League qualification, and the money that comes with it, on several occasions during the period under investigation. Collectively, City’s rivals could pursue claims totalling as much as £800m, though Tottenham’s individual figure is the £200m being floated.
None of it moves an inch until City’s own case is resolved. The Premier League investigation dates back to alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, kicked off after Der Spiegel published leaked City financial documents in 2018, and any compensation claims would only follow once City’s appeal and the underlying process have run their course. There’s a working precedent, at least: an independent commission ordered Everton to pay Burnley £35.1m in June after ruling that a Profitability and Sustainability breach had handed Everton a sporting advantage.
Worth getting excited about?
Given how Tottenham’s ownership has approached fresh capital in recent times, £200m landing in the club’s account would be significant, if it ever actually lands. City still have sanctions to face before any of this becomes real, and this club has learned the hard way not to spend imaginary money.
