Spurs have had a deal with AIA for nine years
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)A group of politicians have called on Tottenham to cut ties with their main sponsor AIA and accused the club of “collaborating with supporters of human rights abuses in Hong Kong”.
Chinese company AIA Group has publicly supported national security law in Hong Kong, which has cracked down on freedom of expression.
Introduced in 2020, the legislation has made it easier to prosecute protesters and resulted in the closure of civil society groups, trade unions and independent media.
AIA Group, the largest life insurer in Asia, issued a public statement in 2020 in support of the national security law despite international condemnation.
The British government oppose the law and a parliamentary group have written to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and called for the club to end its partnership with AIA.
In the letter, shared with Standard Sport, the politicians claim that by continuing to support the national security law, AIA was “lending legitimacy to China’s illegal establishment of a brutal, totalitarian regime in Hong Kong”.
The group — which includes Lord Alton of Liverpool, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle and Lord Shinkwin — have called the law “overreaching and draconian”, and described Tottenham’s sponsorship with AIA a “stain” on the club’s reputation.
Spurs first struck a sponsorship deal with AIA in 2013 and its logo has been on the front of the club’s shirts since then.
In 2019, Tottenham announced a new deal worth a reported £320million to extend their partnership with AIA until 2027.
The group of politicians have urged Spurs to stand in solidarity with the “principles of democracy and equality”.They have called on the club to reconsider its AIA deal and “look elsewhere for sponsorship”.
They wrote: “We must show Hongkongers that they are not alone, that those who support their oppression will not benefit from doing so, and that Tottenham Hotspur Football Club supports human rights and freedom.”
As part of AIA’s sponsorship deal with Spurs, its brand is due to continue to appear on the front of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams’ shirt until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Tottenham declined to comment when contacted by Standard Sport. AIA was approached for comment.
