By admin 
Introduction
Tottenham Hotspur are facing an unexpected legal storm — all because of a beloved Barry Manilow classic that echoes through their stadium before every home match.
For years, Spurs have amped up their matchday atmosphere by blasting Manilow’s iconic rendition of “Can’t Smile Without You” over the loudspeakers at the £1billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The song has become a sentimental favourite, a ritual that unites tens of thousands of supporters in a sing-along moment before kickoff.
But now, one of the original songwriters has stepped forward claiming Tottenham have been enjoying that pre-match magic without paying what they owe.
Geoff Morrow, one of the three men who wrote the hit back in 1975, says Spurs have repeatedly refused to compensate him for their continued use of the track — and he is ready to escalate the matter legally. Making the situation even more heated, Morrow is a devoted fan of Arsenal, Tottenham’s fiercest North London rivals, adding a sharp layer of irony to the dispute.
According to Morrow, he approached Tottenham with a request for royalty payments after seeing how frequently and prominently the club used the song. But the club’s response left him stunned. He claims Spurs dismissed his request entirely, prompting him to criticize the club as “ridiculous” and to consider taking legal action.
The battle comes after years of Tottenham leaning into the emotional power of the Manilow tune. During the pandemic — when Premier League stadiums were closed and matches were played behind closed doors — Spurs famously draped a massive “Can’t Smile Without You” banner across the empty seats, a symbolic nod to the absent supporters and a reminder of the bond between club and fans.
Since full crowds returned, the tradition has only grown. Home supporters embrace the song with full voice, turning it into a pre-match anthem that echoes around the vast stadium. For many fans, it has become part of the club’s identity — a warm, nostalgic moment before the drama of the game begins.
But from Morrow’s perspective, that emotional connection doesn’t replace the business side. He argues that if a Premier League club is regularly using a copyrighted work — especially one as closely associated with its matchday experience as this — then the creators deserve to be compensated, just as they would in any other commercial environment.
The situation has now escalated into what looks like the opening phase of a legal confrontation, one that blends music rights, Premier League branding, and the always-fiery rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham.
Whether Spurs will agree to settle, negotiate, or fight back remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Barry Manilow never imagined his tender ballad would someday fuel a very modern football feud — or that a song about love and longing would leave a Premier League giant wondering whether they might soon be forced to “smile without royalties.”