Jump directly to the content
'off their heads'

Workers at Tottenham’s new stadium ‘drank booze and snorted cocaine’ claims industry report

Shocking allegations suggest the delayed arena has been hit by a number of issues around substance abuse and poor organisation

WORKERS at Tottenham's new stadium had early-morning booze sessions and snorted cocaine in the toilets, it has been claimed.

A shocking report paints a picture of poor organisation and substance abuse affecting the delayed project.

 Topttenham were supposed to move into their new home this month
5
Topttenham were supposed to move into their new home this monthCredit: Alamy Live News

claims to have heard first-hand accounts of workers being under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, which has been denied by contractor Mace.

A Mace spokesman said: "Any suggestion that our rigorous standards around best practise or drugs and alcohol had been broken would be taken extremely seriously.

"We carry out regular random drugs and alcohol testing to ensure that our rules are enforced throughout our supply chain.

"The club and the construction team are working diligently to complete the iconic stadium as soon as possible.

"Although these delays are obviously frustrating, once complete the new stadium is going to leave a fantastic, lasting legacy and will be a project everyone involved will be proud to be associated with."

Tottenham stadium worker films video mocking progress of ground's construction
 Spurs' state-of-the-art new home has bit hit by delays
5
Spurs' state-of-the-art new home has bit hit by delaysCredit: Getty - Contributor
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino jokes that may go to the new stadium and help on the building site

Construction News quotes unnamed sources claiming there has been "chaos" on the building site, with fights breaking out among the 4,000 workers and a lack of communication.

The alleged issues have been largely blamed on Tottenham's decision not to appoint a contractor to develop their £850million new home with overall control of the project.

One source said: "I've not worked on a site like that in a long, long time.

"There were people off their heads, drinking cans first thing in the morning before going on to site and snorting coke in the toilets."

Burst pipe floods new Tottenham stadium
 Daniel Levy has overseen Tottenham's move to a state-of-the-art new venue
5
Daniel Levy has overseen Tottenham's move to a state-of-the-art new venueCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Mauricio Pochettino's lack of transfer activity could be down to the costs of developing anew stadium
5
Mauricio Pochettino's lack of transfer activity could be down to the costs of developing anew stadiumCredit: Getty - Contributor

The report also suggest electricians had arrived to find a ceiling had been installed which prevented them from working.

Electrical work was even repeated THREE times as a culture of mistakes emerged.

Another source added: "[Mace] are like a toothless lion, they have got no claws and no teeth.

"This situation is quite strange. [Mace] can only say, 'This area is ready, could you please deploy someone and sort it out?'"

Spurs were due to move into their home in time to face Liverpool on September 15 but now could be forced to wait until the New Year.

 Tottenham and Liverpool ended up playing at Wembley
5
Tottenham and Liverpool ended up playing at WembleyCredit: Alamy Live News

No official date has been released for the opening, with fans and rival clubs upset by the disruption.

On the frustrating delays, a Tottenham spokesman added: "We have always said that we would issue updates for test events and official opening as soon as we have confidence in our project managers' and contractors' ability to deliver against the revised scheduled of works.

"This remains the case and speculating on unsupported dates such as this is irresponsible."

Topics