Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has hit back at suggestions there are ‘plastic fans’ and ‘tourists’ filling the stadium.
Recent announcements from the club have revealed an increase in season ticket prices for the upcoming season.
This was put to Ange Postecoglou on Friday and he wasn’t impressed by some of the terms being used to describe some Spurs fans.
Postecoglou defends Tottenham fans
The club’s decision to increase next term’s season ticket prices by six per cent did no go down well with the match-going fans.
However, it looks to be a decision which the club are sticking by ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
In his most recent press conference, Postecoglou was asked his thoughts on the notion of local fans selling their tickets to tourists for games.
And it is fair to say the Australian was impressed with the terms ‘plastic fans’ and ‘tourists’ being used in the question. He said: “That’s really harsh – and I’ll tell you why, because I’m probably plastic and touristy because I was coming from the other side of the world, really passionate about football and if I could get access to see a Premier League game that was the world to me,” he said.
“So to label people ‘plastic’ or ‘tourists’ I don’t think that’s fair just because people live on the other side of the world. This football club has supporters all over the world. It has supporters all over the UK who don’t always get access to the games and I think we should always be able to accommodate them.
“It doesn’t make them any less passionate and it’s really disrespectful to call fans who are willing to go to the expense of coming halfway round the world. You don’t know how passionate they are about their football club. Maybe they have only started supporting it in the last two years – but that doesn’t diminish who they are.”
Tottenham season ticket prices
A lot has been made of the increase to the season ticket prices in recent weeks ahead of the new season.
Champions League football could well be on the menu in north London next season.
West Ham’s recent win in the Europa League has now almost guaranteed fifth-spot in the Premier League of qualifying for the Champions League.
However, the increase in ticket prices already comes at a time of economic struggle in the United Kingdon and already sky-high ticket prices.
There has undoubtedly been an increase in Spurs supporters over the last decade with the relative success of the club.
And there has also been an increase in fans from different markets with a large number of South Koreans coming to watch Heung-min Son.
The club will have likely noticed a big increase in revenue from shirt sales with Son merchandise appealing to that market.
Regardless of who is filling the seats at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it has to be said Postecoglou handled that question magnificently.
Receive a digest of our best Spurs content each week direct to your mailbox
