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The ongoing legal row between INEOS – the company of Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe – and Tottenham Hotspur has taken a surprise turn.
Tottenham sue INEOS
Soon after Tottenham beat United in the Europa League final, it emerged that the London club had started legal proceedings against INEOS over a terminated sponsorship deal.
INEOS and Tottenham struck a five-year deal in 2022 for the petrochemicals company to be the side’s official 4×4 vehicle partner.
The agreement was reached before Ratcliffe completed his partial investment in United, became co-owner and assumed operational control from the Glazer family.
However, in March 2025, INEOS exited the partnership with Tottenham, three years into the five-year agreement. This prompted Tottenham to file a commercial claim against Ratcliffe’s firm. It’s believed that Tottenham sued INEOS for more than £11m over an alleged breach of contract.
Tottenham claimed INEOS missed the £5m-plus instalment due on December 1, as well as an earlier inflation-adjusted payment of nearly £500,000. Thomas Frank’s side are also seeking an additional £5,275,974 in damages.
Now, according to The Telegraph, Ratcliffe’s INEOS have hit back, countersuing Tottenham.
INEOS fire back at Tottenham
The newspaper reveals that INEOS are countersuing Tottenham for more than £1m, accusing them of holding sponsorship talks with Audi linked to the sale of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in 2023.
INEOS said about the development, “The particulars of claim make no mention of a highly significant series of events by which the club, unbeknown to Ineos, started negotiating with a major competitor to Ineos with the intention of granting rights to that competitor which were exclusive to Ineos under the agreement.”
“On or around 3 August 2023 (i.e. early in contract year two), Todd Kline of the club (“Mr Kline”) indicated to Ashley Reed of Ineos (‘Mr Reed’) that the club had been in discussions with the German car manufacturer Audi AG (‘Audi’) in connection with rights which were the same as, or substantially similar to, the rights granted to Ineos under the agreement and/or the club had been negotiating with Audi in respect of rights which were exclusive to Ineos under clause 4 of the agreement.”
“According to Mr Kline, the discussions and/or negotiations related to a proposed transfer of the club’s player Harry Kane (‘Mr Kane’) to the German club FC Bayern Munich (‘Bayern Munich’).”
Ineos noted that negotiations between Tottenham and Audi did not bear fruit but added, “this sequence of events ultimately resulted in the parties agreeing that Ineos could terminate the agreement with effect from the end of year three of the contract term.”
“In the circumstances, it is the club which owes Ineos more than £1 million for failing to provide any rights to Ineos in the final part of year three.”
It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds. Meanwhile, United are back in action on Sunday when they go away to Fulham.
Featured image Michael Steele via Getty Images
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