Tottenham supporters’ group ‘deeply concerned’ over club’s new sponsorship deal
The club’s decision to partner for a protracted length of time with the rewards and engagement platform Socios has drawn criticism from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST).
As part of the arrangement, all season ticket holders will receive free, non-transferable Spurs Fan Tokens. With these tokens, they will have access to Socios’s polls, forecasters, tournaments, and opportunities to earn points to unlock goods and experiences.
At some point, non-members will be able to buy a Spurs Fan Token for $2 (£1.64).
The Reignite program of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, which seeks to provide adult employment opportunities and aid for a healthy living in the neighborhood, will get funds from the Socios connection as well, according to Spurs.
The THST expressed its “deep concern” about the agreement and how it would enable a “third party provider to monetise fandom” in a statement released shortly after the announcement.
The arrangement “encourages fans to enter a cryptocurrency ecosystem of which many fans will have little knowledge but will be encouraged to buy additional tokens to ‘win’ things,” the supporters’ group claimed. “The club says One Hotspur members and season ticket holders will be provided with one and five free tokens, respectively.
“Fans trust the club, but we are concerned that many of them may become entangled in a system designed to capitalize on their devotion to the team but which they are ill-equipped to understand.
“It’s imperative that there are no financial or technological barriers to fan participation, but this link may cause both. The THST expects the club to shield our supporters from monetary harm, yet this arrangement seems to do the opposite by exposing supporters to potential harm.
Additionally, we’ll need the club’s assurance that no provider will get the information of supporters without first obtaining their consent or after additional conversation.
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Tottenham open talks to sign £26m star, Spurs could sign the player in cut-price deal
Marcus Edwards may be re-signed by Totspur during the upcoming transfer window, according to the Portuguese newspaper O Jogo.
The 24-year-old decided to permanently join Vitoria Guimaraes in Liga Portugal back in 2019. He was a member of the Spurs youth system. When the Englishman had glimpses of brilliance for the Conquerors, Sporting CP was interested in him, and the Lions decided to sign him last year.
After moving to the Jose Alvalade stadium in succeeding seasons for Ruben Amorim’s team, Edwards continued to put on outstanding performances. Due to the forward’s remarkable achievements, other top European teams appear to be interested in him, including Tottenham.
Sport Witness, citing and translating the print edition of O Jogo, claims that Tottenham is preparing a swoop for Edwards and that they recently contacted Sporting to ask about the specifics of his signing.
The Portuguese powerhouses, according to the report, have made it clear that they have no plans to move their star player any time soon. If Spurs formalize their interest, they will have a difficult time convincing the Lions to sell their best player.
Edwards to Tottenham
O Jogo further claims that Spurs will receive 35% of any future fee Sporting receives from the sale of the forward. Thus, if Tottenham make a bid for Edwards, they may do so for a much lesser price than any other club.
Sporting are well-positioned to demand a high sum if they are forced to sell the attacker next year because he still has three years left on his current contract and is valued by Transfermarkt at roughly £26 million.
Edwards is a flexible forward who can play anywhere in the attacking midfield position. He is speedy, technically proficient, and able to dribble past defenders on the other team in confined spaces. Edwards also has the ability to create opportunities for other attackers and to convert those opportunities himself.
The Englishman is a really skilled player with a lot of potential, so if Spurs were to sign him, it would be a huge coup.
However, it would be intriguing to watch if Tottenham ultimately decides to make a serious effort to recruit Edwards in the forthcoming transfer season to bolster their attack.