Tottenham Hotspur’s long-awaited return to trophy-winning ways was slightly overshadowed by a mishap at the medal ceremony after their 1-0 Europa League final win over Manchester United in Bilbao.
Several key players, including captain Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero, and Rodrigo Bentancur, were left without medals during the on-pitch presentation.
The oversight occurred during the celebrations led by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who looked visibly surprised when the medals ran out before all players had received one. Meanwhile, injured players like James Maddison and Timo Werner, who were not part of the matchday squad, were spotted wearing medals, raising questions about the distribution process.
UEFA later admitted the mistake and issued a formal apology. In a statement, the organization explained that the shortage was due to a miscount, with more team members – including injured players – attending the ceremony than initially planned. Only 30 medals were set aside for the stage presentation, though the club was given 20 additional medals afterward for private distribution.
According to UEFA, all eight match officials did receive their medals during the official ceremony. This added to the awkwardness of the moment, as the final three Tottenham players had to leave the stage empty-handed despite playing crucial roles in the club’s first trophy win in 17 years.
The missing medals were delivered to the players in the dressing room after the ceremony, and UEFA assured that the mistake would not be repeated in future tournaments.
Despite the mix-up, Tottenham’s celebrations are far from dampened. The club has confirmed plans for an open-top bus parade through north London on Friday evening. The route will begin at Fore Street in Edmonton Green around 5:30 p.m., pass by the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and end in the stadium’s service yard at Northumberland Park.
A special presentation area will be set up on Paxton Terrace, where fans can cheer on their team as the players and coaching staff present the trophy. The parade is expected to last about 60 to 90 minutes and marks a joyous moment for Spurs supporters after nearly two decades without silverware.