The York Press

The British billionaire, who handed ownership of the club to the Lewis Family Trust in 2022, was fined five million US dollars (£3.8 million) after he pleaded guilty in January 2024 to charges alleging he had committed securities fraud and conspired to commit securities fraud by insider trading.

A White House official confirmed the pardon and said Lewis, 88, requested it so that he could receive medical treatment and visit his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the US, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

He had initially denied the charges of securities fraud and conspiracy with which he was faced.

According to prosecutors, he passed secrets to romantic partners, personal assistants and friends.

The information allowed them to bet on companies in which he had invested, using information only those with access to the business could have known.

The Lewis family took full operational control of Tottenham this year, after former chairman Daniel Levy stepped down.

Lewis will not be returning to the club, which will continue to be run by the next generation of the Lewis family.

Lewis said: “I am pleased all of this is now behind me, and I can enjoy retirement and watch as my family and extended family continue to build our businesses based on the quality and pursuit of excellence that has become our trademark.”

A source close to the family added: “Joe and the Lewis family are extremely grateful for this pardon and would like to thank President Trump for taking this action.

“Over his long business career, Joe has been a visionary, creating businesses across the world which multiple generations of his family are now taking forward.

“This is why there is so much more to the Joe Lewis story than this one event.”

Lewis built his wealth through the investment company Tavistock Group, and bought a controlling stake in Tottenham Hotspur in 2001.

In 2022 he ceded control of the club and formally handed his stake to a family trust and has no day-to-day involvement with the club.

Spurs is now run by Joe Lewis’s daughter Vivienne, his son Charles, and Vivienne’s husband Nick Beucher, as well as non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.

Mr Levy stepped down as chairman of the club in September after nearly 25 years.

The announcement on Thursday morning is the latest statement of intent by the Lewis family Trust, which invited Daniel Levy to step down as chairman on September 4 in an effort to achieve more on-field success at Spurs.

Three expressions of interest in buying a stake in Premier League club Tottenham have been “unequivocally rejected” during the last month by the Lewis family Trust and further funds are available to help Thomas Frank, the PA news agency understands.

A source close to the family told PA said: “This is initial additional funding.

“As the club’s management decides what’s needed to deliver success, more money will be available. The Lewis family is committed to backing the club to be successful.”

A statement on the official club website claimed “this equity injection will further strengthen the club’s financial position and equip the club’s leadership team with additional resources to continue the focus on driving long-term sporting success”.

New Spurs boss Frank has made a strong start to life in north London, winning six of his opening 11 matches in charge and guiding the club to third in the Premier League going into the October international break.

Peter Charrington, who was named non-executive chairman in the wake of Levy’s sudden departure, said: “As I stated a few weeks ago, our focus is on stability and empowering the management team to deliver on the club’s ambitions.

“I know the Lewis family are also ambitious for the future. Today’s capital commitment reflects that ambition and I would like to thank them for their ongoing support.

“We will continue to do all we can to ensure that Vinai (Venkatesham, CEO) and his team are supported in the best way possible to take this club forward.”

Uruguay international Bentancur joined Spurs at the start of 2022 from Juventus and has gone on to make 122 appearances for the Premier League club – including starting their Europa League final triumph in May.

The 28-year-old had entered the final 12 months of his previous deal but has committed his long-term future to Tottenham.

Ahead of Spurs’ trip to Leeds on Saturday, Frank said of Bentancur: “I am very happy with him as a player and as a character.

“I think when he plays at his best level he is a top-level midfielder here in the Premier League and I probably need to see a little bit more consistency there.

“I also want him to – and I told him myself – dictate the game a bit more and get on the ball when it’s tough because he’s so good on the ball.

“He is so composed and so good to get the ball in tight areas and get out of situations. That I would like to see a little bit more.

“So, I think that is the first bit and he can easily add goals to his game, but the more we can control the middle of the pitch with him, the better.”

Bentancur was surprisingly left out of the leadership group named by Frank later on Friday.

Captain Cristian Romero is joined in the five-player group by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, long-serving defender Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven and James Maddison.

Pedro Porro, who captained Spurs against Doncaster last week, was also left out, but Frank talked up the importance of the duo.

Frank explained: “First and foremost, there is quite a few with leadership potential in them. The more we can have that want to speak up and take responsibility for the bigger picture, the better. That’s what creates the best teams.

“I agree with Rodri Bentancur and Pedro, especially the two of them. They are two I want to take a lot of responsibility.

“I think they do very well, but I also think this group also covers the squad to make sure we get around to everyone, make sure all the groups, even though we’re one big group, are touched and in sync, so lots of factors into that.”

Romero missed the midweek 2-2 draw at Bodo/Glimt as a “precaution” but Frank revealed he is available to play at Leeds in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Paris St Germain loanee Randal Kolo Muani has also returned to training after a dead leg, although he is not fit enough to feature at Elland Road.

“Yes, Romero is fit and available and he will start tomorrow. Promising news. I think there was a contact to the foot and the medical team did a good job to get him turned around,” Frank revealed.

“Kolo Muani has been on the pitch the last two days, so that’s very positive.”

Uruguay international Bentancur joined Spurs at the start of 2022 from Juventus and has gone on to make 122 appearances for the Premier League club – including starting their Europa League final triumph in May.

The 28-year-old had entered the final 12 months of his previous deal but has committed his long-term future to Tottenham under new boss Thomas Frank.

Bentancur told the official club website: “I feel really good and I’m very happy to continue my story with this fantastic club.

“My family are happy; I have fantastic friends and team-mates who work hard every day. I love this club and feel really good here.

“Winning the Europa League was a fantastic moment and we want to build on this now, to win more trophies.

“We have a new head coach, a new captain (Cristian Romero) and I want to enjoy many more years at the club.”

Spurs had to fight back from being 2-0 down after two fine second-half strikes by Jens Petter Hauge to leave with a point in the Champions League.

Van de Ven was given the armband in the absence of injured captain Cristian Romero and started the comeback with a 68th-minute header for his maiden goal in the competition before Archie Gray’s low shot forced an 89th-minute own-goal from Jostein Gundersen.

“A tough game, really tough and 2-0 down, so I think we can be happy with a point,” Van de Ven told SpursPlay.

“It’s a nice feeling (to score) and I’m happy also we get the point otherwise if you lose 2-1 and you score it doesn’t matter, but happy to score my first goal (in the Champions League).

“Yeah, really proud moment. I am happy to help the team as well today. I was hoping for a better performance from our team, but I am happy with the point and a really proud moment for myself and my family (to be captain).”

A flying header by Dutchman Van de Ven from Pedro Porro’s cross came 146 seconds after Bodo’s second goal.

The Spurs centre-back acknowledged the instant reply was significant, he added: “That is also important because I think that gives some extra pressure on them.

“They knew if we score the 2-1 straight away, they need to drop and we are coming. I think we played really well after this and got the point.”

It is the third time in September Tottenham have been forced to come from behind to claim a point.

Spurs trailed by two goals at Brighton before they required a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time on Saturday to rescue a point at home to Wolves.

Kevin Danso was drafted into the line-up in place of Romero and talked up Tottenham’s mentality.

Asked about Bodo’s artificial pitch at Aspmyra Stadion, Danso said: “They are used to it, they play here more often but we are professionals.

“Wherever we play, wherever we go, we try to play our A-game and today it wasn’t quite there, but our mentality came out. I think that is the third time this season we have been down and come back.”

Spurs could have gone second and two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with a sixth win in nine matches under new boss Thomas Frank, but were instead indebted to Palhinha’s curled finish in the fourth minute of stoppage time to rescue a 1-1 draw.

Bayern Munich loanee Palhinha was impressed with Tottenham’s first-half display – where Mohammed Kudus had a close-range header tipped onto the crossbar by Sam Johnstone and another effort ruled out for offside. Lucas Bergvall also fired a 12-yard volley over.

Bottom-of-the-table Wolves reacted at half-time with Vitor Pereira going back to his trusted 3-4-2-1 formation and they went ahead in the 54th minute when Santiago Bueno tapped in after Guglielmo Vicario had denied Ladislav Krejci from a corner.

Frank made multiple substitutions and tactical tweaks after the deadlock had been broken, but Tottenham struggled to fashion clear-cut opportunities until Pape Sarr teed up Palhinha to find the bottom corner from 18 yards for his third goal of the season to earn a point.

“I think it’s mandatory to win these games. I think we give everything and we fight until the last moment – everyone on the pitch. We try to score, try to get the draw but it is a sad draw in my opinion and we wish much more from this game,” Palhinha reflected.

“I think we did a really good first half and when we suffer the goal, we start to drop a lot in my opinion.

“We didn’t have the patience in the right moments when we need to find the good way to score and we need to be much more calm in these moments because it will be key for us.

“We will not start winning all the games, we know even for the future, but when we start to lose 1-0 the game, we need to be much more calm on the ball and especially try to create more chances.

“Yeah it’s a result that for me feels like a loss. I said before that these are the games that are mandatory to win, especially in our home, but now we need to focus on the Champions League.”

Spurs travel to Norway on Monday to face Bodo/Glimt a day later.

Wolves remain winless in the Premier League, but followed up the midweek Carabao Cup success over Everton with another solid display.

Pereira said: “I feel we start to work with the team two weeks ago.

“Before the Everton game, we start to work with the team because before it was not possible. Some of them came the end of the market and after they go to the national team.

“Now we are working tactically and mentally, the tactical page, to put them on the tactical page, to understand in two different systems.

“I am very happy with the players because in the last two games against Everton and today we show we can compete.”