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Remember when several Tottenham Hotspur players got in hot water after getting busted hosting a Christmas party that was in violation of England’s COVID-19 related lockdown? That was bad. You know what’s not bad? Tottenham just gave all the player fines collected to a local hospital to benefit the National Health Service.
We have donated £100,000 to @NorthMidCharity, needed to deliver a ‘Thank You’ initiative for @NorthMidNHS heroes.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 3, 2021
Money has been taken from fines the Club issued to players that breached COVID-19 guidelines over the festive period.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS
Spurs donated £100k to North Middlesex University Hospital, with that sum coming from the fines collected from players who violated lockdown protocols over the holiday period. That includes the fines issued to Erik Lamela, Giovani Lo Celso, and Sergio Reguilon after a photo emerged of them gathering as part of a group in late December. There may be other fines in that pile as well that we simply don’t know about, too.
In a statement on Spurs’ website, Daniel Levy said the club always donates player fines to charities and other places where it is needed.
“The Club always ring-fences player fine money for good causes and we can think of no better cause to donate these funds to than North Mid’s ‘Thank You’ initiative for staff.
“NHS staff across the country continue to make sacrifices and put themselves at risk every day to save lives and we hope this contribution will go some way towards providing the recognition that these heroes deserve.
“Although the circumstances in which we are able to provide the financial support required are regretful, we are pleased to know that we are able to contribute and look forward to working with North Mid on this fantastic initiative.”
Frankly, that’s a great response to player misconduct — instead of that money going back into the club it’s being sent out to help others who are in need. I like that.
It doesn’t change the fact that Lamela, Lo Celso, and Reguilon all did something really stupid, but at a time when the NHS could really use the money I’m glad it’s going to a place where it can help people.