The situation is on the edge, but the club released character merchandise. That's why fans exploded.
Tottenham Hotspur released goods in collaboration with children's animated character Peppa Pig amid relegation danger. The timing was off. Inside the stadium it was a fight for survival; the club was focused on marketing.
The Sun of Britain reported on the 1st (Korea time), "Tottenham Hotspur unveiled various official products using Peppa Pig. There are quite a few types. There are four kinds of hats alone. Each costs 15 pounds. Peppa, her younger brother George, and the club's emblem of a cockerel are all included," the report said.
According to the description, the goods included a cap and a bucket hat engraved with the phrase "Let's play," and the 20-pound backpack featured the character alongside the club badge. The 14-pound scarf even included an image of Peppa Pig wearing a Tottenham uniform. It's a typical "family-targeted" product lineup.
The problem is timing.
Tottenham is currently fighting to stay in the Premier League. They are two points away from safety. Only four matches remain. Everything in the season is at stake. The probability of relegation is estimated at as much as 58%.
The "Peppa Pig collaboration" that came out at this time really touched fans' emotions.
According to The Sun, which is based in Enfield, fan Chris Hardy (50) said, "This is the worst season of my life. We have become a laughingstock. The people who created this situation are proud of a Peppa Pig collaboration—now we've officially become a 'cartoon club,'" he directly criticized.
Another fan, Phil McCleary (43), also criticized, "The club cares more about money than matches. They are only interested in raising revenue through goods. They don't seem to care about what happens on the pitch."
The mood on site is also not good. The squad is under pressure. The next match is an away game at Aston Villa. Depending on the result, survival could be further shaken; it is an important schedule.
In this situation, the club's actions are being perceived by fans as a lack of awareness of reality.
[OSEN]