Tottenham Hotspur has issued a firm and forceful condemnation of the racist abuse aimed at new signing Mathys Tel following his dramatic and unfortunate missed penalty in last night’s UEFA Super Cup final.
The club’s statement, released early on 14 August 2025, described those responsible as “cowards” and pledged to work with authorities and social media platforms to take “the strongest possible action” against any individual identified.
Tottenham made clear they “stand with” Tel amid the vitriolic response to what should have been a moment of bravery.
Tel, who had come off the bench to confidently step up to take a spot kick in a high-pressure shoot-out, became the focal point of racially abusive commentary following his miss.
Tottenham responded swiftly, stating: “Mathys showed bravery and courage to step forward and take a penalty, yet those who abuse him are nothing but cowards—hiding behind anonymous usernames and profiles to spout their abhorrent views.”
Tel’s move from Bayern Munich to Tottenham in early 2025 was far from straightforward. Initially, the 19-year-old forward—who made just four starts for Bayern this season—reportedly rejected the club’s overtures despite the clubs agreeing on a £50 million fee. His hesitation signaled a cautious approach toward a defining career decision.
That changed dramatically after a series of strategic discussions. Tottenham technical director Johan Lange and even chairman Daniel Levy traveled to Munich to persuade Tel’s camp.
Reports suggest Levy’s pitch did not immediately sway the forward. However, a lengthy and personal conversation with head coach Ange Postecoglou, who laid out how he intended to deploy Tel and emphasized his fit within the team, made the difference.
As one fan-recounted summary on social media put it: “Ange … expressed how much he valued Tel’s versatility and speed, … it scored points with Tel.” By Monday morning, Tel had decided to come to Spurs.
The deal was structured as a loan until the end of the season, with an option to make it permanent for around £45–50 million.
Postecoglou struck a confident tone upon Tel’s arrival. “He’ll be a Tottenham player,” he said. “I didn’t bring him here for six months.” He emphasized Tel’s diligence, ambition, and self-belief: “He was very thorough in the way he made his decision.”
Tel’s early months in north London have been mixed. After a debut in a Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool, his first full start came in an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa.
Despite conceding ground early, he scored a stoppage-time goal in a 2-1 defeat—a moment that suggested promise amid a broader disappointing performance.