Racist abuse will ‘not bring down’ Tottenham’s Tel

Key Takeaways:

• Tel faced online racist abuse following Tottenham’s UEFA Super Cup loss.
• The forward asserted that “none” of the abuse will “bring him down.”
• The incident underscores the persistence of racism directed at footballers.
• BBC Sport broke the story on 19 August 2025.

The Abuse and the Aftermath
Tottenham Hotspur’s Mathys Tel awoke to a wave of racist messages in the hours after the club’s UEFA Super Cup defeat, according to a report from BBC Sport. The online attacks followed the high-profile loss and quickly spread across social platforms.

A Defiant Response
Tel responded with brevity and conviction. “None” of the hateful words, he said, will “bring me down.” The short statement was enough to signal that the forward intends to meet the abuse with resolve rather than retreat.

A Familiar Backdrop
The abuse surfaced in the emotional fallout of Tottenham’s Super Cup defeat—an event that often magnifies scrutiny of players. In this instance, disappointment on the pitch was matched by deplorable conduct off it, directed squarely at one individual.

Standing Firm
For Tel, the answer is clear: persistence in the face of prejudice. By publicly rejecting the slurs, he offered a reminder that the fight against racism in football remains both personal and collective.

Looking Ahead
While the match result is already recorded, Tel’s stance after the final whistle could resonate far longer. His four-word declaration speaks to a wider struggle—one where every refusal to be diminished chips away at the hate itself.