There’s been a fair few interventions in the debate around Brexit but while sporting stars tend to take a hands-off approach to such divisive topics, the Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has been forthright in laying out his views on the topic.
Speaking during his pre-match preference ahead of his side’s London derby with against West Ham, he gave his feelings on the political maelstorm that’s engulfed the country he now calls home.
"I feel so sorry because it's a situation that should be dealt with by the people who have all the information, who know the reality," Pochettino said. "How the people translate the reality is another thing, because if some people are against or for Brexit, they manipulate everything.
"It's not fair to put the decision on us, because afterwards there are consequences. But we don't know [what is going to happen].
"We buy an idea. Someone tells me it would be good for my son, my family, myself, and then if the consequences are different then you [the voter] are the guilty one. That's what I don't like."
In an intervention of uncommon insight from someone in his position, the Argentine continued and compared drew a comparison between the political class casting a decision of this time onto the people as like him asking a fan to pick his team.
"If I am responsible for picking a starting XI, I need to take the responsibility. I cannot ask the fans who we should play. I know the consequences if I don't pick right and get good results, but it's so unfair to put the responsibility on the people.
"It's such an important decision and it's a very serious problem, that situation. After two and a half years, I think 99 percent of the people of this country still don't know if it's good, in or out."
"If I need to vote in or out [again], I still don't know what the best decision for us will be," he said. "If you're going to vote, it's because you believe it will be good for you and the people you love -- your friends, your country, everyone. But still after two and a half years, we don't know.”
But what would his solution be?
"Another referendum? It's such a complicated situation, I cannot guess. If we want another referendum, it's because we believe we are going to vote in, no Brexit.
"Again, for the politicians it's a very difficult thing because if they ask one [more] time, it's because 'now it's not right what happened, with the result. Another referendum'. Then it will be 'it will be good, it will be bad' [again]. Come on.
"For me, the most important thing is to apply common sense. If now the politicians realise it will be tough and it will be bad for England, why not go back and explain 'this is what is going to happen?' It’s like doing nothing when you are going to crash [your car]. If I'm going to crash but Jesus [Perez, Pochettino’s assistant ] is saying ‘come on, come on, push, faster’. No! Stop!"
The 46-year-old had previously mentioned that the impact of Brexit on the value of the Pound had caused Tottenham’s spending power in the European marked to be diminished and the cost of their new stadium build to be driven up. They failed to make a single signing in the summer transfer window.
