In a response to Tottenham Hotspur’s legal action against them, Manchester United owners INEOS have now counter-sued the North London club, accusing them of holding sponsorship talks with Audi, linked with Harry Kane’s sale to Bayern Munich in 2023.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, who own 25 per cent of Man United, announced a multi-million-pound, five-year deal with Spurs in December 2022 to promote INEOS Grenadier car as the club’s ‘official 4×4 vehicle partner’.
However, it emerged earlier this year that talks were underway to end the sponsorship deal between Spurs and INEOS two years before it runs out, with the United owners having to undertake major cost-cutting measures due to financial pressures.
Subsequently, Tottenham took High Court legal action on June 12 against INEOS, and now, the multinational conglomerate has responded by suing the Lilywhites.
INEOS allege Tottenham illegally began negotiations with Audi
The Telegraph have now confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur are seeking a minimum of £5,275,974 in damages from INEOS for ending the deal prematurely.
However, in defence, INEOS have now launched a counter-claim to the High Court, claiming that Tottenham had started negotiating with a competitor for rights that were exclusive to them under their agreement.
Their counter-claim reads: “The particulars of claim make no mention of a highly significant series of events by which the club, unbeknownst 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 claim Tottenham owe them £1m
According to The Telegraph, INOES’ defence went on to state that even though Spurs’ commercial partnership with Audi did not materialise, it was after the club had begun discussions with the German automotive manufacturer that the parties had agreed to terminate their deal.
It added: “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.”
The publication also backs up what we have heard previously by revealing that INEOS maintain that they had a contractual right to terminate their partnership contract with Spurs in December 2024, which they exercised.
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