Why did three Spurs players, including Son Heung-min, not get a medal from Aleksander Ceferin after UEFA Europa League win against Manchester United?
Published 22/05/2025 at 10:39 GMT+1
Tottenham Hotspur were celebrating as they beat Manchester United in the final of the UEFA Europa League in Bilbao. But UEFA had to offer their "sincerest apologies" after the match as three Spurs players, including club captain Son Heung-min, did not receive their medals from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. Spurs' win means they qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Tottenham celebrate with Europa League trophy
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tottenham Hotspur had a night to treasure as they beat Manchester United to win the UEFA Europa League - but why did three players, including club captain Son Heung-min, not receive medals?
Brennan Johnson’s goal proved the difference in Bilbao as Spurs got the better of their Premier League rivals to lift the trophy and qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou was the first to receive a medal on stage from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin following the win.
He was followed by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario as Spurs players lined up to collect their medals.
Among those in the line were James Maddison, Timo Werner, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski, all of whom missed the final due to injury.
They received medals along with Will Lankshear, who played in the Europa League league phase before spending the second half of the season on loan at West Brom.
But club captain Son, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur missed out as they were at the back of the line and the medals ran out.
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Instead, they got a handshake and hug from Ceferin - and had to wait until later to collect their medals.
"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," said UEFA in a statement.
"The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight."
UEFA rules state that "the winning team is presented with 50 gold medals and the runner-up with 50 silver medals".
There were 30 medals ready to be given out on the pitch, but that number did not prove enough as the 23-man matchday squad was joined by several players who did not take part in the final.
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Maddison was one of those sidelined in Bilbao, and he had to change into his kit to receive a medal.
"They said I had to, to get the medal," he told TNT Sports.
"I didn’t want to do a John Terry [who changed into a full kit to lift the Champions League trophy in 2012 after not playing in the final] when he went on with full kit and shin pads, but what a special feeling.
"Winning makes it all alright. The pain of not being able to play is not being able to affect and help the team.
"But if we win anyway, I know I’ve played a big part in the lead-up and I deserve this just as much as all of us, but it was not being able to affect it that affected me the most, but pure adulation now."
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Maddison makes John Terry quip after picking up medal in full kit
Video credit: TNT Sports
Son was later seen with a medal after winning the first trophy of his career.
Spurs’ celebrations are set to continue on Friday as they hold a parade finishing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
They then finish their Premier League season at home to Brighton on Sunday.
Discussing his post-match plans, Postecoglou, whose future is unclear despite the win, said: "I'll go back to my hotel room, get my family and friends together, open up a nice bottle of scotch, have a couple of quiet ones, get ready for a massive parade on Friday, play Brighton on Sunday - really important our last home game and we want to finish strong.
"Monday, I'll go on holiday with my beautiful family because I deserve it. And que sera sera."
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