Tottenham Hotspur finally secured a victory, but afterward found itself embroiled in unexpected controversy.
Tottenham won 3-1 against Southampton in a home match during the 31st round of the 2024-2025 season English Premier League (EPL) on the 6th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
With this victory, Tottenham recorded 11 wins, 4 draws, and 16 losses, maintaining 14th place with 37 points.
Tottenham, which had struggled with 1 draw and 3 losses in its last 4 league matches, successfully turned the tide. The gap from the relegation zone also widened. In contrast, Southampton has been confirmed to be relegated to the English Championship (second division), regardless of the results of the remaining 7 matches.
The standout player for Tottenham's victory was Brennan Johnson. He led the team to victory with a multi-goal game. In stoppage time of the second half, he evaded the opposing defense to earn a penalty kick, also creating an opportunity for a hat trick. Given that he had already scored two goals, it was expected that he would step up to take the kick.
However, an unexpected scene unfolded. Mathys Tel, who joined Tottenham on loan from Bayern Munich during the winter transfer window, headed towards the penalty spot with the ball. He expressed his intention to take the kick. Johnson looked toward the bench with a bewildered expression.
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham's manager, also appeared confused. Johnson alternated his gaze between the bench and the field but received no clear instructions. Ultimately, Tel took the penalty kick and scored. After the goal, Tel celebrated in front of the corner flag.
After the match, Johnson said in an interview with the club's official channel regarding the incident, "Such things happen occasionally during a game. I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere unnecessarily."
The local reaction in the UK was cold. The football media 'The Boot Room' questioned, "Why couldn't Johnson take the penalty kick he earned himself?" They pointed out that the vice-captain Cristian Romero decided that Tel needed a goal and passed the ball to him, effectively taking away Johnson's opportunity.
Furthermore, it was noted that "Johnson missed a golden opportunity to achieve his first hat trick in the EPL on this day," and "questions among fans about why Johnson did not take the penalty kick are growing."
[OSEN]