Mauricio Pochettino Calls for Tottenham to Be Awarded 2016-17 Premier League Title After Chelsea's Financial Rule Breaches
Pochettino Demands Spurs Receive 2016-17 Title Amid Chelsea Financial Violations
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has made a bold claim that Spurs deserve the 2016-17 Premier League trophy following revelations that Chelsea broke FA financial regulations. The Argentine insists that Chelsea’s admitted breaches mean the title should be handed over to his old club.
The 2016-17 Title Race Under New Scrutiny
The Football Association fined Chelsea £10 million and imposed a suspended transfer ban after the club admitted to 74 violations of financial rules during Roman Abramovich's era. These breaches, spanning 2011 to 2018, involved undisclosed payments to unregistered agents connected to major signings like Eden Hazard, David Luiz, and Nemanja Matic—all vital players in Antonio Conte’s title-winning squad.
Chelsea self-reported these irregularities following a change in ownership in 2022. That season, Tottenham finished second, seven points behind Chelsea, despite having the best attack, strongest defense, and fewest losses. Pochettino now argues that this legacy should be reconsidered.
"We Deserve to Be Champions," Says Pochettino
“We should have been awarded it. If that was true, and that happened, for sure we deserve to be champions for that year. Because we were the second best.”
The former Spurs coach emphasized how uneven the playing field was between the two clubs. He questioned why a financial penalty alone is enough when clear rule-breaking took place. “The title should be for the team that was second. We didn’t compete with the same rules,” he said.
Pochettino suggested that if Spurs had operated under the same financial conditions, they might have strengthened their squad further and possibly changed the season’s outcome. “Maybe we could have signed some players that would have made the team better, or scored more goals,” he added. “It’s not me complaining. It’s the truth.”
Confronting Chelsea Despite Recent Tenure
Even though Pochettino managed Chelsea during the 2023-24 season, he did not hesitate to call out his former employers. “Chelsea fans will be upset with me because I’m saying this,” he admitted, “but if we broke the rules at Tottenham, I’d admit we don’t deserve the title.”
He compared the situation to football rules themselves, stressing fairness: “It’s impossible if only some clubs play with offside and others don’t, or if VAR is applied inconsistently. Everyone must follow the same rules and have equal opportunity to build the best team.”
While praising Antonio Conte’s coaching, Pochettino insisted sporting integrity must take priority. “I don’t want this message twisted. But if you broke the rules, then ciao. You need to give it to another team.”
He warned that leniency encourages rule-breaking. “What is being promoted is to break the rules. If you don’t punish properly, I lost my job because we didn’t win the title,” he reflected on his Spurs departure in 2019. “We were competing against clubs who worked completely differently. I think we deserve more.”
Will English Football Act Retroactively?
Historically, English football authorities avoid stripping titles over financial misconduct, often using points deductions instead. Yet increased focus on financial fair play and sustainability means cases like Chelsea’s will fuel ongoing debates about fairness.
Retroactive punishment for Chelsea appears unlikely, so the official record probably won’t change soon. Still, Pochettino’s remarks will add fuel to discussions about how the Premier League enforces rules among its richest clubs.
- FA Fine on Chelsea: £10 million
- Number of Financial Breaches: 74
- Period of Breaches: 2011–2018
- Chelsea Title Season: 2016-17 Premier League Champions
- Tottenham Finish: 2nd place, 7 points behind Chelsea
- Key Chelsea Players Involved: Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Nemanja Matic
