Last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur showed a flash of their old resilience, fighting back from a deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Manchester City. While the action on the pitch provided plenty of drama, a separate conflict was brewing behind the scenes one that left thousands of Danish viewers staring at empty screens when they expected to hear from their national hero, Thomas Frank.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the sports media world, Tottenham has reportedly initiated a total boycott of Viaplay, the primary broadcaster for the Premier League in Denmark.
The situation came to light when the usual post-match routines were disrupted. In Denmark, where Frank is a figure of immense public interest, fans were eagerly awaiting his analysis of the City draw. However, the manager never appeared for his scheduled slot.
Subsequent investigations by Danish outlet BT revealed that this was no scheduling error; rather, it was a deliberate choice by the North London club to pull the plug on their relationship with the TV station.
At the heart of this dispute is an unspecified interview that took place recently. According to Kim Mikkelsen, the senior vice-president and head of sports at Viaplay, the club’s hierarchy was deeply offended by the line of questioning Frank faced during a previous encounter.
While Tottenham has officially declined to comment on the specifics, those close to the broadcaster believe the tension stems from questions regarding Frank’s job security.
Specifically, journalists had asked the Danish coach about the mounting pressure he is under following a difficult run of form, as well as the level of support he genuinely feels from both the board and the fanbase.
Mikkelsen expressed surprise at the club’s extreme reaction, stating that the broadcaster does not believe it did anything wrong by asking about topics that are being widely discussed in every sports bar and newspaper across Europe.
From the station’s perspective, they were simply doing their jobs by addressing the “elephant in the room.” However, for a club trying to maintain stability during a rocky transition, these questions were clearly seen as an attempt to unsettle the camp.
The statistics tell a story of a manager who is currently fighting an uphill battle. Since being appointed at the start of this season, the 52-year-old Frank has overseen 36 matches, but the results have been underwhelming.
With only 13 wins in total and a mere seven of those coming in the Premier League Spurs find themselves languishing in 14th place. While they sit nine points clear of the relegation zone, this is far from the European-challenging form the ownership had envisioned.
| Competition | Games Played | Wins | Win % |
| Premier League | 24 | 7 | 29.2% |
| Cup/Europe | 12 | 6 | 50% |
| Total | 36 | 13 | 36.1% |
This lack of consistency has turned the heat up on Frank, making the media’s focus on his future even sharper. In Denmark, the coverage has been particularly intense, with various pundits and former coaches weighing in on whether Frank is the right fit for the high-pressure environment of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Last month, prominent Danish pundit Glen Riddersholm voiced his frustration with the club’s direction, further fueling the fire that the club is now trying to douse with this media blackout.
As it stands, there is no clear timeline for when this boycott might end. Viaplay has stated that they have no personal issues with Frank or the club and simply want to resume providing comprehensive coverage for their viewers. For their part, Tottenham appears to be playing a game of legal technicalities.
When pressed for a statement, the club pointed out that they had fulfilled their mandatory broadcasting obligations by making new signing Conor Gallagher available for a post-match interview. By substituting a player for the manager, the club believes they are staying within the rules while still making their displeasure known.
This “cold war” between the club and the broadcaster highlights the thin skin of modern football institutions when faced with criticism. While Thomas Frank remains a respected figure for his tactical mind and his previous success, the reality of the Premier League is that results dictate the narrative.
By blocking the manager from speaking to his home nation’s primary sports channel, Tottenham may be shielding him from difficult questions in the short term, but they are also alienating a massive segment of their international fanbase.
Ultimately, the only way to silence the questions about pressure and support is to start winning games. Until the results on the pitch improve, no amount of media boycotts will stop the speculation regarding Thomas Frank’s future in North London.
For now, Danish fans are left in the dark, and the relationship between a Premier League giant and its international media partners remains at an all-time low.
