Why THREE Tottenham players missed out on medals despite playing in the Europa League final
Tottenham Hotspur’s stunning Europa League final victory over Manchester United was supposed to be a night of pure celebration — their first major trophy in 17 years and a glorious end to a season that had tested the club’s resolve. However, the memorable occasion was slightly overshadowed by an unfortunate mishap during the medal ceremony, as at least three key Spurs players were seen without winners’ medals after the final whistle.
Spurs, under the leadership of head coach Ange Postecoglou, capped off an otherwise challenging domestic campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final. The decisive goal came from Welsh forward Brennan Johnson, who found the back of the net just before halftime, sealing what turned out to be the match-winner in a tense, closely contested affair.
The victory not only secured silverware for Spurs fans to finally celebrate but also guaranteed them a coveted spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League — a major boost for the club’s aspirations going forward.
However, amid the jubilant celebrations, an odd and rather awkward moment unfolded during the trophy presentation. According to reports from The Sun, a minimum of three Tottenham players were spotted without medals as they took part in the post-match festivities. Club captain Son Heung-min — a central figure in the team’s triumph — was one of those who appeared on stage without a medal around his neck as he lifted the trophy, adding an unexpected blemish to what should have been a flawless moment.
Joining him in this unfortunate oversight were Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero, both crucial contributors to Spurs’ European campaign. It remains unclear whether more players were affected, but the incident raised eyebrows as fans and commentators alike questioned how such an error could occur on such a grand stage.
Speculation soon followed that UEFA had simply run out of medals, as cameras captured a brief exchange between UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Son before the official trophy handover. While the nature of their conversation was not confirmed, it’s widely believed that Čeferin may have offered congratulations — and perhaps a quiet apology — to the Tottenham captain amid the mix-up.
UEFA later released a formal statement addressing the incident:
“To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count, as more team members — including injured players — participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated. The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.”
Despite the hiccup, the night remained one of the most memorable in recent Tottenham history. Speaking after the game, a visibly emotional Son Heung-min reflected on what the victory meant to him and the club.
“Let’s say I’m a legend now,” the South Korean international said with a smile. “In 17 years, nobody has done it, so today, let’s say with amazing players, probably I’m a legend of the club. This is what I’ve always dreamed of. Today is the day it happened. I am the happiest man in the world.”
Son also spoke about the mental toll the final had taken in the days leading up to the clash:
“When you look at the whole season, there are always moments that are tough, but we as players always stuck together. I felt the pressure. I wanted it so badly. The last seven days, I was dreaming about this game every night. It finally happened and I can sleep easy now.”
Tottenham now look to round off their Premier League campaign in style when they face Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. But regardless of what happens in that match, Spurs fans will remember this week as the one when their long trophy drought finally came to an end — even if it came with a slight hiccup on the podium.