Tottenham Sue Ineos Over Terminated Sponsorship Deal

Tottenham File High Court Claim Against Ratcliffe’s Ineos Automotive

Tottenham Hotspur have launched High Court legal proceedings against Ineos Automotive, a division of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s business empire, over a terminated sponsorship deal.

According to UK court records, the Premier League club filed a commercial claim against the car manufacturer, which had been their official 4×4 vehicle partner through its Ineos Grenadier model.

The exact details of the claim are not yet public, but it stems from the early termination of a five-year sponsorship agreement, signed in 2022, before Ratcliffe became co-owner of Manchester United in early 2024.

Ineos Responds to Termination

An Ineos Automotive spokesperson said:

“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.”

Tottenham have declined to comment further while the legal case is ongoing.

Background: A Pattern of Disputes?

This is not the first time Ineos has faced legal action over sponsorships. In March 2025, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) announced it had reached a settlement with the British firm over a dispute tied to a six-year sponsorship deal that began in 2022.

NZR had alleged Ineos failed to pay the first 2025 instalment of their agreed fees after the company opted to end the partnership early. The case was settled, though financial details were not disclosed.

The current claim from Spurs could echo similar issues, potentially centred around contractual breach or compensation clauses linked to the premature exit.

Impact of Ratcliffe’s Manchester United Role

While there is no official connection drawn between the sponsorship termination and Ratcliffe’s stake in Manchester United, the timing has raised eyebrows.

Ratcliffe, whose Ineos Group acquired a 25% stake in United in early 2024, is now a significant figure in the Premier League ownership landscape. This Spurs legal move could test the limits of how sponsorship and ownership interlink at the elite level of the game.