Mathys Tel Responds to Racist Abuse Following Uefa Super Cup
Tottenham Hotspur forward Mathys Tel has stated that the online racist abuse he faced after the club's recent defeat in the UEFA Super Cup will not "bring him down."
The 20-year-old Frenchman was targeted with abusive messages on social media following Spurs' 4-3 loss on penalties, after they squandered a two-goal lead during regular time.
Tel entered the match as a substitute in the 79th minute and was one of two Spurs players who failed to score in the penalty shootout.
In response to the abuse, Spurs expressed their "disgust" and labeled those who sent the messages to Tel, who joined the north London club from Bayern Munich this summer, as "nothing but cowards."
Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, Tel took to his Instagram account to express gratitude for the "messages of support" he has received.
"I was also disappointed about Wednesday night, but racism has no place in our society. Every day is a learning curve, and every day is a lesson," Tel remarked.
"I know where I come from, where I started, and none of this will bring me down. With work and humility, respect reigns."
Tel's remarks follow similar incidents involving racist abuse in football, including that suffered by Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo during their opening match of the Premier League season against Liverpool at Anfield.
The match last Friday was temporarily halted in the 29th minute after Semenyo alerted the referee to the abuse. A 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested by Merseyside Police on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and has since been conditionally bailed.