Manchester United Owner Caught in a Legal Dispute With Tottenham Hotspur

Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in a legal dispute with Tottenham Hotspur.

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Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in a legal dispute with Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United Owner Caught in a Legal Dispute With Tottenham Hotspur

Stephen Awino 09:30 - 14.06.2025

Tottenham Hotspur have filed a High Court claim against Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Automotive.

A legal row has erupted between Tottenham Hotspur and Ineos Automotive, a company owned by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The North London club has filed High Court proceedings against the car manufacturer, citing issues related to a terminated sponsorship agreement.

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According to court records as per BBC Sports, Tottenham launched a commercial claim, though the precise details of the case remain undisclosed as no supporting documents have been made public.

The dispute centers on a sponsorship deal signed in 2022, when Ineos Automotive became the official 4x4 vehicle partner of Spurs through its Ineos Grenadier model, a move that predated Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United.

Sponsorship Fallout

Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur squad in training . IMAGE; Tottenham

The partnership between Spurs and Ineos Automotive appeared solid initially, building on an earlier relationship between the football club and Ineos Group that began in 2020.

However, in December 2024, Ineos chose to end the five-year agreement just two years into its term.

"Ineos Automotive has been a partner of Tottenham Hotspur since 2022, expanding on a partnership agreement that Ineos Group had in place with the club since 2020. We have a contractual right to terminate our partnership contract and in December 2024 exercised that right," Ineos said in a statement.

Tottenham Hotspur have declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.

The timing of the termination, following Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a stake in United, has raised eyebrows given the traditional rivalry between the two Premier League clubs.

As the legal battle with Spurs unfolds, the case could shed light on the obligations of corporate sponsors in foobtball and the implications when such commitments are cut short.