Mathys Tel Addresses Racist Abuse After Super Cup Final

Mathys Tel, the young French winger, has broken his silence following hateful racist messages he received online after missing a penalty in Tottenham’s Super Cup final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The 20-year-old had a moment of disappointment after failing to convert a crucial penalty during the shootout, which saw Spurs fall 4-3 to PSG.

The match had seen Tottenham’s coach, Thomas Frank, seemingly on the verge of securing his first trophy after his team went 2-0 up, thanks to goals from Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. However, PSG rallied late, scored twice, and eventually triumphed in the penalty shootout.

In the hours following the match, Tel was subjected to a wave of online racist abuse, prompting his club to denounce the perpetrators as “cowards” hiding behind anonymous profiles in a social media statement.

Nearly a week later, Tel addressed the incident in a heartfelt Instagram post, expressing gratitude for the support he received. He emphasized that racism has no place in society and reaffirmed his resilience: “Every day is a learning curve, but I will not let this bring me down. Respect and humility are fundamental.”

Mathys Tel has spoken out after receiving racist abuse last week

The young player missed a vital penalty in the shootout against PSG

Tel’s experience highlights ongoing issues with racism in football. In recent times, players like Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford faced online abuse after Euro 2020 penalty misses. Even Jess Carter, an England defender, paused her social media activity after experiencing racial harassment, leading to reforms in how players’ gestures, like taking the knee, are perceived and used.

Racial abuse remains a concern, with anti-discrimination groups warning that such trolling may discourage Black players from taking penalties in the future. They call for greater accountability from social media platforms, football authorities, and regulators to protect players’ welfare and combat online hate. The collective aim is to foster a safer environment where all players can perform without fear of racist abuse.

Tel stated publicly that racism has no place in society