UEFA has issued an apology after it ran out of winners’ medals during the Europa League final trophy ceremony on Wednesday night, leaving several Tottenham Hotspur players— including captain Son Heung-min—without medals during the official presentation.
Tottenham defeated Manchester United 1-0 to claim their fourth European title, but the post-match celebrations were marred by the oversight as Son and two teammates, who were among the last to receive medals, were left empty-handed on stage.
Son was seen lifting the trophy without a medal around his neck, prompting questions from fans and commentators.
In a statement quoted by British media on Thursday, UEFA admitted the error, citing an unexpected increase in the number of players who joined the ceremony.
“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,” UEFA said.
“More team members – including injured players – participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated.”
UEFA confirmed that the missing medals were delivered promptly to the players in the dressing room, along with their sincerest apologies for the oversight.
The incident has drawn mixed reactions on social media, with fans praising UEFA’s swift response, while others criticized the lack of preparation for such a high-profile event.
