Sadiq Khan explains why Londoners should be hoping West Ham stay up over Tottenham

Sadiq Khan explains why Londoners should be hoping West Ham stay up over Tottenham, with his comments going viral on social media.

In an interview with the Standard, the London Mayor has blamed predecessor Boris Johnson for doing the ‘worst deal imaginable’ which means if the Hammers go down, City Hall will face a huge £2.5m bill, and that local residents would also suffer.

Under the 99-year deal signed by previous mayor Boris Johnson, West Ham pays £4.4million a year in rent, leaving the Greater London Authority (GLA) to pick up the bill for stewarding and other costs associated with the stadium.

If West Ham are relegated to the Championship, they would face 23 home matches in the instead of 19 in the Premier League, and would incur higher stewarding costs.

As West Ham and Tottenham battle it out to avoid relegation from the Premier League, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan reveals to The Standard who he would rather face the drop. pic.twitter.com/l7hM2UClm7

— Standard News (@standardnews) May 11, 2026

🚨London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, says🗣️

“Londoners should be hoping West Ham stay up as taxpayers will have to pay a further £2.5m for the London Stadium if they are relegated”

Even the London Mayor wants Spurs to go down😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/5blffwjj09

— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) May 12, 2026

He told the Standard: “What I’d say to Londoners who don’t support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham.”

“The previous Mayor, Boris Johnson, did the worst deal that can be imaginable,” he added.

“As far as West Ham are concerned, as a deal of the century where he basically gave them rent free, this amazing stadium for 100 years.

“Now if West Ham are relegated, we, the taxpayers, we City Hall, could lose up to 2.5m a year.

“So what I say to Londoners who don’t support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham, because the taxpayer will lose out if West Ham go down.”

West Ham, who have an average attendance of 62,454, currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, with 36 points from 36 games played. Tottenham, with a average crowd of 60,958, are two points ahead in 17th.

REMAINING GAMES:

TOTTENHAM
Tue 19 May (A) Chelsea – 8.15pm
Sun 24 May (H) Everton – 4pm

WEST HAM
Sun 17 May (A) Newcastle United – 5.30pm
Sun 24 May (H) Leeds United – 4pm

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Here’s how fans reacted after Sadiq Khan explains why Londoners should be hoping West Ham stay up over Tottenham…

@HPwhufc: Just take the ground off us mate we won’t kick up a fuss

@GrazaWhu: We’d get 100’s of millions in break clauses, Sullivan would sort us a new plot, a company he absolutely isn’t affiliated with would then get all the money to build the new stadium, work would never commence and the money would dissappear…

@Tay170398: Would rather share with Dagenham

@ollieG8: Simple solution. Sell the ground to west ham. They originally offered to buy it for a profit but the offer was refused and the tenancy agreement was then negotiated. If it was sold when it should’ve been then west ham would pay for the up keep 🤷🏻‍♂️

@JxmesCPFC: I had to check this wasn’t a @CFO4TAG quote because wtf 😂😂

@Lawrenceee_B: That’s terrible. The Mayor should take the stadium away from West Ham.

Jon Chivers: If they got the stadium rent free why will the tax payer lose if they get relegated?

Jason Mcguinness: Jon Chivers West ham don’t get it free, they rent it and the government get all profits when it’s used for anything other than West ham games

Jimmy Davis: It was gonna sit empty for 10 months of the year anyway

Jim Thumwood: We’ll sell it then if your loosing tax payer money it’s a white elephant the only time it’s full is West Ham home games

Mark Phillips: Take the dump back then

Danny Marsh: Don’t worry khan, I’m sure you’ll work out a way to claw it back, increase congestion charge, dart charge increase, poll tax, car tax, inheritance tax, charge for walking on cracks in the pavement 🙄

Dave Hirst: Yeah, we’re all grateful for the “aMaZiNg StAdIuM” 🙄 The majority of us West Ham fans hate the place.

Steven Croucher: They can share their ground with Leyton Orient

James Milstead: He’s full of sh*t. West Ham don’t have that tidy a deal there! They pay £4.4m a year to rent it, which is a better alternative than having an empty bowl just sitting there for 9 months of the year. Also, the Stadium is operated by the LLDC, a corporation that is owned and overseen by the Mayor of London & the Greater London Authority.

Anthony Bright: Khan lying again. Under the 99-year deal signed by previous mayor Boris Johnson, West Ham currently pay £4.4m a year in rent. It’s not rent free.

Stuart Fairbrother: All he’s worried about is the money!!!