UEFA have stepped in to block Tottenham's pre-match plans for tonight's Europa League final. The clash at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao kicks-off at 8pm, with both Spurs and Manchester United bidding to salvage their wretched domestic seasons.
Ange Postecoglou is under huge pressure, with the club already confined to its worst-ever Premier League campaign. He's also out to silence critics after previously vowing to win silverware in his second season at the club. However, just hours before the game that could define his tenure, the Aussie boss has been handed an unwelcome disruption.
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The London club arrived in Spain with flowers for a planned to offer a tribute to Athletic Bilbao legend Rafael Moreno, better known as 'Pichichi'. He died in 1922 aged just 29, but his name has remained etched in club folklore after helping the club to four Copa del Rey crowns and five regional titles.
It has been a long-standing tradition for all clubs playing at Athletic Bilbao's home ground for the first time to lay flowers in his memory. Tottenham captain Son Heung-min had been due to do the honours on the pitch ahead of the game.
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However, UEFA officials have now scuppered Tottenham's plans. The authority has claimed that such a ceremony should only take place when a team first plays against Athletic Bilbao, and not against a neutral team.
United made their own floral Pichichi tribute ahead of the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in Bilbao, which they won 3-0. Spurs officials would have been permitted to lay flowers in tribute on Tuesday evening after the first-team squad trained at the venue, but were not made aware of that until this afternoon.
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Pichichi has his own statue outside the entrance to the stadium, which also hosted the 2024 Women's Champions League final. Furthermore, since 1927, the Pichichi Trophy has been awarded to La Liga’s top scorer each season.
United have also been forced to change plans ahead of the clash. Ruben Amorim’s side will wear black shorts instead of their traditional white, as their opponents were deemed the 'home' team for the final.