Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Sebastien Bassong is facing a prosecution for allegedly dodging a £7 fare on the London Underground. The 39-year-old is accused of using an invalid Transport for London Staff Nominee Pass to tailgate through a ticket barrier.
A witness statement from TfL employee Adebukola Anifowose detailed the incident. "I observed Mr Bassong pretend to tap an Oyster card enclosed in a white wallet before tailgating through the wide-aisle gate behind another male," Anifowose said. "When requested to produce the card used at the barrier, Mr Bassong presented a Transport for London Staff Nominee Pass without the required accompanying photocard."
System checks later confirmed the pass was not valid and had last been used in October 2025. The pass was registered to an acquaintance of the former player. Bassong was required to respond to the charge by September 15 but has not done so. TfL has declined to comment on the ongoing case.
Bassong, who has worked as a pundit since retiring, claimed he was unaware of the prosecution. "I didn't know about the prosecution and I haven't received a letter," Bassong said. "I was using a card given to me, and I was stopped, and I didn't know it wasn't good enough."
The ex-Cameroon international, capped 19 times, joined Spurs from Newcastle United in 2009 for a reported £8 million. He scored on his debut against Liverpool and made 71 appearances for the club before moving to Norwich City in 2012. His playing career ended in Greece with Volos in 2018.
The news emerges as the current Tottenham side, whose squad is under pressure, sits bottom of the standings with just two points from five games. Their recent form has been poor, conceding 12 goals in that period and scoring only 5. Their next challenge in the fixtures is a trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 10th, a match where they will be desperate to improve their defensive stats and secure a much-needed result.
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