Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that Tottenham should have been awarded Chelsea's Premier League title from the 2016-17 season. The claim comes after Chelsea was found to have broken transfer regulations during the Roman Abramovich era. The club admitted to using unlicensed agents and hiding details of their transfer activity between 2009 and 2022.
These violations included deals involving players like Eden Hazard, Willian, David Luiz, and Nemanja Matic, according to The Guardian. Those players were key to Chelsea's title win under Antonio Conte in the 2016-17 season. Chelsea self-reported these breaches when it took over from Abramovich in 2022, hoping to reduce the punishment.
The club was fined £10 million and given a suspended two-window transfer ban. Despite the punishment, Chelsea did not lose points in the league. Pochettino, who managed Chelsea briefly in 2023-24, said the FA did not go far enough.
He stated that if Chelsea’s violations were true, then Tottenham should have been crowned champions instead. Pochettino emphasized that teams should compete under the same rules. He added that it is not fair for one team to win using illegal methods while others play by the rules.
The former Tottenham manager also said that he does not believe Chelsea played poorly or that Conte was not a great coach. However, he insisted that rule-breaking should result in the title being awarded to another team. Pochettino’s comments come as he continues to be linked with a return to Tottenham, according to a report from The Guardian.
He had expressed openness to managing the club again, especially after his time with the United States national team. Tottenham had made a strong push to bring him back, but timing issues delayed any potential move. Spurs were forced to act quickly after a poor run under interim manager Igor Tudor.
They eventually hired Roberto De Zerbi, who turned down their initial offer but accepted a long-term contract after his previous club let him go. Pochettino has been linked with several top clubs in the past, including Real Madrid and Manchester United. He was also considered for the England national team job after Euro 2024, though he said he is not currently considering it.
Despite his current commitment to the US national team through the 2030 World Cup, Pochettino remains close to Tottenham. He said that Spurs is still his club and that he respects the game of football. Pochettino’s remarks about Chelsea’s title are part of a broader discussion on fairness in football.
He believes that if one team used illegal tactics, it is only fair to award the title to another. The FA has not taken further action to reverse Chelsea’s 2016-17 title, despite the admitted violations. This has led to ongoing debate among fans and experts about how such cases should be handled in the future.
Pochettino’s comments reflect his long-standing belief that integrity must be maintained at all levels of the sport. He has always been open about his desire to return to Tottenham, and his views on this matter are part of that. His stance has drawn attention not only from fans but also from those who study football governance and ethics.
Tottenham’s fans, who have long admired Pochettino, are likely to be divided on his position. The issue raises questions about how the sport deals with rule violations and whether the current system is fair. Whether or not this case leads to changes in how titles are awarded remains to be seen.
For now, Pochettino’s words continue to stir discussion in the football world.
Correction: Chelsea separately received a £10.75 million Premier League fine in March 2026 for historical breaches involving payments between 2011 and 2018. The £10 million figure in your article refers to the later FA punishment.