Outrage Over Racial Abuse
In a recent statement, Tottenham Hotspur expressed their outrage over the racial abuse directed at forward Mathys Tel on social media following a disappointing loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup. The incident occurred after Tel failed to convert a penalty during the shootout, which culminated in a 4-3 defeat for Tottenham after they had initially established a 2-0 lead in the match.
Match Overview
The game, held at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, saw Spurs dominate until the 85th minute, with goals from Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero putting them ahead. However, late strikes from Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos brought PSG level, forcing the match into the dramatic penalty shootout.
Mathys Tel’s Situation
Tel, a French under-21 international, recently had his loan transfer from Bayern Munich solidified for a reported fee of £30 million (approximately $40.76 million) in June. Despite his brave attempt to contribute to the team by taking the crucial penalty, he faced vicious online attacks from anonymous individuals following the match.
Club’s Response
“We are disgusted at the racial abuse that Mathys Tel has received on social media following last night’s UEFA Super Cup defeat. Those who participate in such cowardly acts hide behind false identities to promote their vile ideologies. We will collaborate with authorities and social media companies to pursue the harshest penalties against identifiable offenders. Our support remains with Mathys.”
This incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding the prevalence of hate speech and racism within sports and the urgent need for collective action to tackle these issues head-on.
