Tottenham planned to open its new stadium on Sept. 15 against Liverpool.GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham made a "secret payment" to the FA to play at Wembley until the end of the year "because of constructions concerns" at its new stadium, according to Neil Ashton of THE SUN. Spurs Chair Daniel Levy activated an option with FA execs to use Wembley as the club's home stadium beyond this weekend's match with Fulham. The new 62,000-seat White Hart Lane was "meant to be ready for the start of this season but has been delayed." It means Tottenham is preparing to play Premier League and Champions League home games at Wembley until its new White Hart Lane home is "fully ready." An FA official said, "Spurs have taken up the option to come to Wembley for a number of Premier League home games and the home games in the group stage of the Champions League. However, it is still their intention to play their home games at White Hart Lane after the Fulham game (at Wembley)" (THE SUN, 8/13).
SAFETY CONCERNS: In London, Paul MacInnes wrote "questions have been raised over safety" at the stadium. The club says it is pursuing "urgent" meetings with the contractor after it found "issues with critical safety systems." It said "follow-up meetings" with construction company Mace and trade contractors "are now taking place" (GUARDIAN, 8/13).
