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The new season has not started well for Tottenham, but it’s more than just their performances that are attracting criticism;  the club have unveiled massive new pitchside advertising for one of the world’s most toxic companies, BP.

Spurs are promoting BP despite their long record of harm and unethical behaviour. BP operations are linked to cancer in children, devastating oil spills and worker deaths. The UK (and many other places) have just struggled through the hottest summer on record, but Spurs are partnered with one of the biggest corporate polluters of all time. 

The partnership is especially egregious because Spurs initially advertised a deal with BP Pulse, to promote electric vehicle charging, before quietly pivoting back to the main brand. This ‘bait and switch’ is reminiscent of BP’s infamous ‘Beyond Petroleum’ rebrand and other sustainability promises, which were subsequently dropped as they doubled down on harmful fossil fuels. 

After a long campaign, BP were actually dropped by the Science Museum earlier this year. Yet Spurs have still chosen to promote a brand that is becoming increasingly toxic. 

Spurs fans could be forgiven for struggling to feel particularly proud of their club at the moment. This advertising deal certainly won’t help. It’s time for clubs to end fossil fuel partnerships and for governing bodies to ban them outright.