Sol Campbell has questioned whether Tottenham fans’ hatred is fueled by racism and says he is bewildered why they continue to “grab” over his move to Arsenal.
Campbell made the stunning switch to North London in 2001, coming through the ranks at White Hart Lane to become captain and, at the time, one of the best centre-halves in world football.
He then won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.
Campbell largely stays out of the limelight but reappeared yesterday in a Google Pixel ad in which he reignited his feud with Spurs fans mocking their relative lack of success.
In the ad, he ditches his white jumper for a red one and says “big moves pay off”.
He added: “It’s not that you’re doing anything outrageous, you’re just changing into something much, much better.”
Campbell confused by lingering hatred
Having stoked the fires ahead of tonight’s North London derby, Campbell then appeared on AFTV to question why Spurs fans still dislike him and suggested there may be an ulterior motive.
He said: “They don’t know what they are doing. Because if you still close this, you’ll see what happens.
“(They have a) new stadium, new training ground, everything is amazing in the future and you still comment on me. So what’s going on here?
“Is it a matter of color, is it a matter of color? Is there a color issue with this? Is there a color in your lower abdomen that is holding you back?
“Because there are a lot of other players who have made these kinds of moves, similar moves, you say to yourself is it a color thing or is it a confusion?”
When it comes to big moves, there’s only one man who knows what’s what.
Change like Sol this transfer window and save money on Pixel devices in the Google Store: https://t.co/Gu32cX23Bf pic.twitter.com/EGtb3Zb4cm
— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) January 14, 2025
No regrets, Campbell insists
Former England defender Campbell, now 50, insists he has no regrets about the move despite the animosity that has followed him ever since.
He said: “Football wise, I have no regrets. When you’re young, as a kid, I wanted to win, that’s what it’s all about.
“As a mature thing, this is special again because you look back. As a young person I want to win, I think I have limited time to win something.
“I will do the same thing again. At least I can look back and say ‘look at the team I played with’.
