Tottenham Hotspur’s long-awaited return to silverware was overshadowed by an unexpected mishap during the Europa League trophy presentation at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. After securing a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, Spurs’ first major trophy in 17 years, several key players, including captain Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero, and Rodrigo Bentancur, were left without winners’ medals during the on-pitch ceremony.
The incident occurred as UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin distributed medals to the Tottenham squad. As the ceremony progressed, it became apparent that the supply of medals was insufficient, leaving the final few players, notably Son, Romero, and Bentancur, without medals. Ceferin, seemingly caught off guard, offered only a handshake to the affected players.
The oversight drew criticism from fans and commentators alike, with social media abuzz over the apparent organisational lapse. UEFA has since issued a formal apology, attributing the shortage to an unexpected discrepancy in the number of participants on stage. According to UEFA, only 30 medals were initially allocated for the stage ceremony, and the inclusion of additional team members, including injured players, led to the shortfall. The missing medals were delivered to the players in the dressing room, accompanied by UEFA’s sincerest apologies for the oversight.
Despite the hiccup, Tottenham’s victory remains a significant milestone for the club. The team is set to celebrate their Europa League success with an open-top bus parade through North London, starting from Edmonton Green and concluding at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where fans will have the opportunity to join in the celebrations.
While the medal mishap was an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise historic night for the Spurs, the club and its supporters will undoubtedly focus on the achievement of ending a 17-year trophy drought and look forward to the celebrations ahead.
