Son Heung-min Steps in as Tensions Flare Between Tottenham Teammates During Europa League Clash
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was forced to play peacemaker on Thursday night as tempers flared between two of his teammates during their crucial Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar.
Spurs secured their place in the Europa League quarter-finals with a 3-1 home win against the Dutch side, overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. Ange Postecoglou’s men delivered a strong response, with summer signing Wilson Odobert scoring twice and James Maddison adding another to seal the victory. However, despite the impressive comeback, the game’s biggest talking point emerged just before halftime when an unexpected argument broke out between Maddison and Pedro Porro over a set piece.
Tense Moment Between Maddison and Porro
As the first half neared its conclusion, Tottenham were awarded a crucial free kick in a promising position while leading 1-0 on the night. With the aggregate score now level at 1-1, Maddison, the team’s usual set-piece taker, prepared to take the kick. However, tensions suddenly escalated when right-back Pedro Porro stepped up and attempted to claim the ball for himself.
The disagreement quickly turned heated as the two players exchanged words, with neither backing down. The confrontation became animated enough to attract the attention of their captain, Son Heung-min, who swiftly intervened to defuse the situation. The South Korean international stepped in between the two, restoring order and ensuring Maddison remained the designated taker. Eventually, the set-piece proceeded as planned, but the incident left many fans questioning the professionalism of the players involved.
Fans React to Heated Exchange
Footage of the altercation circulated on social media, drawing a wave of reactions from supporters. Many expressed frustration over the lack of discipline, especially in such a high-stakes match.
One fan wrote: “I don’t get why this happens. Clubs have designated set-piece takers. This isn’t just disrespectful to the taker but also the manager. It’s playground stuff!”
Another commented: “Son is practically babysitting a bunch of kids. All the time, these two fight over free kicks. Gotta feel sorry for the guy—he has too much on his plate.”
A third supporter jokingly lamented: “Why do they have to keep embarrassing me?”
Despite the heated moment, any lingering tension between Maddison and Porro appeared short-lived. Just minutes into the second half, Maddison doubled Spurs’ lead in the 48th minute, and Porro was spotted celebrating with him—suggesting that the disagreement had already been put behind them.
Spurs March On in Europa League
With the 3-1 victory, Tottenham continued their pursuit of silverware under Ange Postecoglou, keeping the Australian manager’s hopes of delivering a trophy in his second season alive. The North London side now advances to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they will face Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt in what promises to be another challenging encounter.
While the in-game argument may have overshadowed parts of the match, the overall performance showed Spurs’ resilience and determination to compete on multiple fronts. However, Postecoglou will likely address the set-piece dispute behind closed doors to ensure such distractions do not resurface as the club pushes for success in the latter stages of the competition.
Son Heung-min forced to intervene as two Spurs teammates clash during AZ Alkmaar win
