Tottenham blocked from upholding touching 98-year tradition by Uefa ahead of Europa League final against Man Utd
TOTTENHAM have been blocked from honouring a 98-year tradition before the Europa League final.
Uefa have reportedly stopped Spurs from laying flowers down at an iconic statue outside the San Mames.
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Tottenham's plans to lay a floral tribute to Athletic Bilbao goal legend Pichichi were stopped
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Spurs arrived with flowers for Heung-min Son to place before the famous Pichichi bust
Ange Postecoglou's side are taking on fellow Premier League strugglers
Manchester
United on Wednesday night in Bilbao.
But Spurs' plans to lay a floral tribute to Bilbao goal legend Pichichi were foiled by Uefa on the eve of the final
, according to
Spurs arrived armed with flowers for captain
It is usually a tradition for those playing at the San Mames for the first time to lay down a wreath there.
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Son was expecting to perform the tribute before going out to train in the stadium on Tuesday, only for
Uefa
to step in and stop it.
The 49,600-seater stadium is handed over to Uefa for the event and they are in control of all logistics not Athletic Bilbao.
Tottenham officials were not impressed having been led to believe they would be allowed to lay the flowers before game day.
Uefa claimed Spurs were not stopped but informed that the ceremony should only take place when they played against Athletic Bilbao, and not against a neutral team.
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Man Utd made their Pichichi tribute ahead of the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in Bilbao, when they beat Athletic Club 3-0.
The tradition has existed since 1927.
BATTLE FOR BILBAO: The Road to the Europa League Final
Rafael Moreno, an inside forward better known as Pichichi, died in 1922 at just 29 years old.
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He is a club icon and his name lives on through an annual award made to LaLiga's top scorer.
Born in Bilbao's Casco Viejo, he scored 83 goals in 89 official games in an era before LaLiga.
He scored more than 200 for the club if friendlies are taken into account.
He won five regional
Championship
titles and four Copa del Rey's.
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He played for Spain in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, winning a silver medal.
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