Tottenham Hotspur has reportedly been prevented by UEFA from carrying out a long-standing tradition, dating back 98 years, ahead of the Europa League final.
Ange Postecoglou`s team is set to face fellow Premier League club Manchester United in the final on Wednesday night in Bilbao.
Spurs had planned to place flowers at the well-known statue located outside the San Mamés stadium. This tribute honors Athletic Bilbao`s legendary goal scorer, Pichichi.
However, UEFA reportedly blocked Tottenham`s plans just before the final match.
Tottenham arrived prepared with flowers for their captain, Heung-min Son, to lay before the famous Pichichi bust.
It is a customary tradition for visiting teams playing at San Mamés for the first time to lay a wreath or flowers at the statue.
Son was expected to perform this tribute before the team`s training session on Tuesday.
But UEFA intervened, clarifying to Tottenham that this ceremony is specifically for teams playing *against* Athletic Bilbao at their home stadium, not for matches where San Mamés is used as a neutral venue.
For the final, the 49,600-seat stadium is under UEFA`s management, controlling all logistical arrangements, rather than Athletic Bilbao.
Manchester United had previously honored Pichichi with a tribute before the first leg of their Europa League semi-final match against Athletic Club in Bilbao, which they won 3-0.
This specific tradition of paying tribute to Pichichi has been in place since 1927.
Rafael Moreno, an inside forward famously known as Pichichi, passed away in 1922 at the young age of 29.
He is considered a club icon, and the annual award given to La Liga`s top goal scorer is named in his honor.
Born in Bilbao’s historic Casco Viejo district, he scored 83 goals in 89 official matches during an era before the creation of La Liga.
His total tally for the club, including friendly games, exceeded 200 goals.
He secured five regional Championship titles and lifted the Copa del Rey trophy four times.
Pichichi also represented the Spanish national team, earning a silver medal at the 1920 Olympic Games held in Antwerp.
