Tottenham ‘Providing Support’ for Player Allegedly Threatened With Gun by Agent

Metropolitan Police attended an incident in early September.
Destiny Udogie (second top left) started Tottenham’s Champions League clash with Copenhagen on Tuesday night.
Destiny Udogie (second top left) started Tottenham’s Champions League clash with Copenhagen on Tuesday night. / Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur have said they are supporting Destiny Udogie after confirming he was the previously unnamed player threatened with a gun by an agent.

News broke earlier in the week of an altercation involving a Premier League player and a 31-year-old agent, with the former threatened with a firearm on Cockfosters Parade, Barnet. An arrest was made by Metropolitan Police on suspicion of possession of firearms with intent, blackmail and driving without a licence.

In a short statement on Tuesday, Tottenham confirmed that Italy international Udogie was the player in question and that the club had been “providing support for Destiny and his family since the incident and will continue to do so.”

A source had told The Sun newspaper of the incident, which took place on Sept. 6: “This was a terrifying incident and one which has sent shockwaves through the business side of football. The player was understandably shaken up—to have threats made against you with a gun is shocking.

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Destiny Udogie looking on.
Destiny Udogie is receiving support from his club. / Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images

“He reported it right away. It was the right thing to do for his safety. He has been supported by his friends and club and they all hope it will not impact his performances. But there will be serious questions about why this happened, which the police are now trying to answer.”

22-year-old Udogie, rapidly emerging as one of the world’s premier left backs, started in Tottenham’s 4–0 win over FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday—a result that earned Thomas Frank’s side a second three points in four European outings to lift them into the top eight of the league phase table.

That was Udogie’s 10th appearance of the season for Spurs, who have enjoyed a strong start to the season under Frank after dispensing with the services of Ange Postecoglou in the aftermath of a 17th-place Premier League finish and victory in the Europa League—that trophy lift ended the club’s 17-year wait for silverware.


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Toby Cudworth
TOBY CUDWORTH

Toby Cudworth is Lead Editor for Sports Illustrated FC. A Premier League, EFL & UEFA accredited journalist, Toby supports West Ham United and still can't believe they won a European trophy.