Tottenham’s Mathys Tel speaks out after racist abuse in Super Cup defeat | OneFootball

Tottenham Forward Tel Responds to Racist Abuse

Tottenham’s Mathys Tel has spoken with strength and dignity after receiving racist abuse online following Spurs’ UEFA Super Cup defeat. The 20-year-old forward, who joined from Bayern Munich this summer, was targeted on social media after missing a penalty in the shootout against Real Madrid. Spurs eventually lost 4-3 after squandering a two-goal lead in normal time.

Tel’s Resilience in Difficult Circumstances

Tel entered the contest in the 79th minute and was one of two Tottenham players unable to convert from the spot. The abuse that followed drew immediate condemnation from the club, who described those behind the messages as “nothing but cowards”.

Addressing the incident publicly for the first time on his Instagram account, Tel made clear that he would not be broken by such hatred. He expressed gratitude to supporters, stating he wanted to say “thank you” for the “messages of support” he had received.

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Clear Message Against Racism

Tel spoke with maturity beyond his years. “I was also disappointed about Wednesday night but racism has no place in our society. Every day is a learning curve, and every day is a lesson,” he said. He went on to add, “I know where I come from, where I started and none of this will bring me down. With work and humility, respect reigns.”

Wider Context in English Football

His comments follow a troubling trend. Only days earlier, Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo was subjected to racist abuse during their Premier League fixture against Liverpool at Anfield. The match was briefly halted after Semenyo reported the incident to officials. Merseyside Police have since arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.

Tottenham’s backing of Tel, and the player’s defiance, send a vital reminder of football’s ongoing responsibility to confront racism head-on.