Mauricio Pochettino has reignited one of Tottenham Hotspur’s most painful Premier League memories. The former Spurs manager believes Chelsea FC should lose their 2016/17 league title following the recent confirmation of financial-rule breaches at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino has gone a step further, arguing that Tottenham should retrospectively receive the championship. His comments have opened a fresh debate over sporting punishment, competitive fairness and whether historical titles should ever be reassigned.
The Argentine was Tottenham’s manager when they finished runners-up to Antonio Conte’s Chelsea in 2017, making his latest intervention particularly significant.
Chelsea won the title with 93 points, while Tottenham finished second on 86. Spurs’ 86-point tally remains their club record for a Premier League season.
Why Does Pochettino Want Chelsea Stripped Of The 2017 EPL Title?
Pochettino’s argument centres on fairness. Chelsea have recently accepted sanctions following investigations into historical financial-rule breaches. The Premier League confirmed sanction agreements involving total fines of £10.75 million, while an FA case involved 74 breaches and a £10 million fine.
The FA breaches relate to conduct during the Roman Abramovich era, including matters surrounding player and intermediary payments. Pochettino believes sporting consequences should accompany rule violations if those breaches potentially affected competitive balance.
His stance is straightforward– if a club gains an advantage while breaking regulations, the sporting reward should not remain untouched. That principle is behind his call for Tottenham to inherit the trophy.
Why Tottenham Could Be Given Chelsea’s Premier League Trophy
Tottenham Hotspur FC were the obvious beneficiaries in Pochettino’s argument because they finished directly behind Chelsea. Spurs collected 86 points, losing only four matches and recording their best-ever Premier League finish at the time.
However, there is currently no indication that the Premier League will rewrite the 2016/17 standings. Chelsea remain officially recognised as champions. The club itself records the campaign as one of its title-winning seasons, with Antonio Conte’s side securing the championship with two matches remaining.
Chelsea’s campaign was also statistically dominant. They won 30 league matches and produced a 13-game winning streak after Conte switched to a three-man defensive system. That is why Pochettino’s demand is so controversial.
