Tottenham Hotspur are in a spot of trouble with the Advertising Standards Agency over their ad that promised their new stadium would be the only place to watch Champions League football in London this season.
With Tottenham’s stadium not ready to open and no date yet set for the first game, it seems increasingly unlikely the venue will host any Champions League football this season as Spurs get ready to crash out in the group stages.
On the back of their ad promising it to be the only place to watch that specific competition in the nation’s capital, Darren Boyle, an enterprising Arsenal fan, contacted the ASA about its misleading nature.
This was their response:
Thank you for contacting the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Your Complaint: Tottenham Hotspur Ltd
I understand from your complaint that you felt that Tottenham Hotspur’s advertising was misleading because the stadium in the ad has not yet been completed and therefore it is unlikely that fans will get to see Tottenham play at the new stadium in the Champions League.
We have concluded that the ad was likely to have breached the Advertising Rules that we apply and I am writing to let you know that we have taken steps to address this.
We have explained your concems to the advertiser and provided guidance to them on the areas that require attention, together with advice on how to ensure that their advertising complies with the Codes.
Comments such as yours help us to understand the issues that matter to consumers and we will keep a record of your complaint on file for use in future monitoring.
Thank you once again for contacting us with your concerns.
Kind regards
https://twitter.com/misterscoop/status/1060215646426972160?s=19
Boyle told Daily Cannon when we asked him why he had contacted the ASA, “I contacted the ASA because I felt it was my public duty to inform them of this egregious breach of advertising standards and they agreed with me.
“The homeless crowd from Middlesex made claims that they could not substantiate. Some might say that I am quite petty in making that complaint, although I feel this is unfair.
“There could be impressionable children out there looking at these ads and making lifetime choices.
“If I save one child from becoming a Tottenham fan and suffering a lifetime of disappointment, then it will be all worthwhile.”
Legend.