UEFA apologises after running out of medals during Europa League final ceremony
May 23 (Reuters) - UEFA has apologised for running out of winners medals during the Europa League final trophy ceremony on Wednesday after more Tottenham Hotspur players than expected lined up to receive their individual prizes.
Spurs captain Son Heung-min and two other players, the last to line up for individual medals, were left empty-handed after their team beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the club's fourth European title on Wednesday.
Son lifted the trophy without a medal around his neck.
'To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count ..." British media quoted European soccer's governing body as saying on Thursday.
"More team members – including injured players – participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated.
'The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
Kirby announces England retirement before Euros
England attacking midfielder Fran Kirby has announced her retirement from international football with immediate effect before the European an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, Kirby says she is leaving the international scene with her "head held high".The Brighton player, who has 77 caps for the Lionesses, has been a key figure for England for more than a was named in Sarina Weigman's squad for the Uefa Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain but was informed she would not be selected for the Euros starting on 2 her first interview after announcing her retirement, Kirby said: "It is something I have been thinking about for over a year. I knew this was going to be my last major tournament."The plan was to retire after the Euros but after speaking to Sarina I'm not going to make the squad."It was like a dagger to my heart but also a weight off my shoulders all at the same time. It was emotional for both of us but we both respected what each person was saying." The news comes just days after goalkeeper Mary Earps also retired from international football before England attempt to defend their Euros 31, is understood to have informed her England team-mates of the decision after Tuesday's clash against Spain in last England appearance was as a second-half substitute in the 6-0 win over Portugal. She was not named in the matchday squad against former Chelsea player, who is a two-time PFA Women's Footballer of the Year winner, is one of the most recognisable female players in the won seven Women's Super League (WSL) titles and five Women's FA Cup trophies at Chelsea, but she is best remembered for playing a key role in England's historic Euro 2022 started all six of England's games in the tournament, scoring twice, as Wiegman's side lifted the trophy with victory over Germany at Wembley."When I woke up in the morning after telling Sarina, I didn't feel any regret," added Kirby. "That's when I knew I'd made the right decision."I've been on this team for a long time, it's not going to be a shock that it was coming to an end."You get to a certain age and there are some really good youngsters that are coming through." Kirby, who started her career at Reading, scored seven goals in 17 WSL appearances this season as Brighton finished fifth."I've put everything into this and feel like I have had a good domestic year," she said."I've fought hard to be in the Euros squad but unfortunately that's not enough."Kirby has battled with injury issues and illness throughout her career, struggling with fatigue in the build-up to Euro 2022 and missing the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury that required surgery."Everyone knows the injuries that I've had and I've been protecting my body," she said."This is part of that. But I feel like I've got so much to give in football. I'm already looking forward to the domestic season." Kirby's full retirement statement After being in the England team since I was 21, it's time to close that chapter of my life. I didn't ever want this day to come, but I cannot tell you how proud I am it been the biggest honour to represent my country, one that I had only dreamt about as a young girl.I've played with some incredible players, worked with some incredible managers, played in some amazing tournaments and have irreplaceable journey has been full of ups and downs, setbacks and achievements. Enough has been said and written about those, but regardless of whatever was thrown at me, I want you all to know that every time I put on that England badge I gave it 100%.Every single call-up, I accepted my role and did whatever was needed for the team. I wanted England to win. I've always been there to help England mum had a dream of me representing my country and I'm so proud I was able to do that and play in front of you all.I will never, ever forget the noise when my name is read out at a stadium. I was first selected when I was playing in WSL 2, I played a part in the game-changing World Cup, wininng bronze in 2015, creating memories of a in every game and winning the Euros in 2022 was a dream come true, to be part of change in women's football was one of the best experiences I could ever have you to all of you for embracing me as a young girl from Reading who had a dream. I hope you all know that wearing that badge was the greatest every young girl that suffers setbacks, just remember you can. You can. Forever a Lioness, Fran.
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
England thrash West Indies in final ODI to secure whitewash after game was delayed because the visitors were stuck in London traffic
A day that began with England crossing the Thames on Lime bikes turned into a stroll in the park as Harry Brook's one-day team completed a 3–0 whitewash over West Indies with a dominant seven-wicket win. With faulty traffic lights at Vauxhall Bridge causing gridlock, several England players got off the team bus after leaving their hotel in Kensington and cycled to The Oval instead. The West Indians, travelling down from Chelsea, got stuck in Parliament Square altogether, and turned up so late that the scheduled 1pm start was delayed by half an hour. They may have wished they had never arrived at all, as England's powerful batting line-up made light work of a chase of 246 after heavy rain shortened the match to 40 overs a side. There were still more than 10 remaining when Jos Buttler pulled Jayden Seales for the winning six. These are early days for Brook's white-ball reset, and sterner challenges lie ahead, but they move into the three-match T20 series, starting at Chester-le-Street on Friday, with a long-absent spring in their step. A total of 400 in Birmingham, a Joe Root-inspired chase of 309 in Cardiff, and now a demolition job in south London: they have done everything they could, and they have done it in style. Only when Gutakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph were thrashing 90 in 11.2 overs for West Indies' eighth wicket did England threaten to lose control, with their three frontline seamers all erring in length. But the excellence of Adil Rashid, who was on a hat-trick after removing Justin Greaves and Roston Chase, had given them breathing space by reducing the tourists to 121 for six. Even with Sherfane Rutherford cracking a run-a-ball 70 – his seventh score of 50 or more in his 11 ODI innings – West Indies were always chasing the game. England's openers then ensured they never caught up, with Jamie Smith hammering 64 in 28 balls on his home ground, including 58 in boundaries, and Ben Duckett 58 in 46. Both players enjoyed a reprieve: Duckett was dropped on 15 at long leg by Rutherford, and Smith on 44 at midwicket by Greaves. But in between they hit the ball hard and often: their opening stand of 93 used up just seven overs and, when Duckett fell in the 16th, the total was already 155. A study in contrasts, Smith and Duckett feel like an alliance that may endure. England's rate of progress removed what little sting there was from the contest, though a near full house still enjoyed an innings of 44 from Root, who took his series haul to 267 runs from 253 balls for twice out. If he can take this form into the Test series against India starting on June 20, his summer will get better still. With Brook – dropped on four by Chase at backward point – almost a bystander, Buttler hastened victory with 41 off 20 balls, bringing England their first one-day clean sweep for three years, and leaving West Indies without a 50-over victory against them in this country since 2007.
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bruno Fernandes ‘wants to stay at the highest level' as he turns down Saudi move
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has confirmed he has turned down a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia because he wants to 'stay at the highest level'. The 30-year-old midfielder has been the subject of speculation linking him with a £100million switch to Al Hilal, with the Saudi Pro League side reportedly prepared to pay him £700,000 per week. However, Fernandes confirmed he had rejected the chance to move after speaking to Ruben Amorim and his family. 'The president of Al Hilal called me a month ago to ask about the possibility of me moving there,' Fernandes told a Portugal press conference, according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo. 'I had to wait a while to think about the future. As I've always said, I would be willing to do it if United thought it was best to move on. 'I spoke with Ruben Amorim, who really tried to talk me out of it. 'I spoke to the club, who said they weren't willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave. 'From my side, it was a very ambitious proposal, the president was a fantastic person. I never talked about the money, it ended up coming up later, with my agent. 'I had to make the decision as a family and understand what I wanted for my future. That was the question my wife asked, what my professional goals would be. At no point did she say yes or no, she always supported me and put my professional side first. 'It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo. My children are used to playing with theirs. 'But I simply want to stay at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, because I still feel capable of that. 'I want to continue to be happy and do what I love most. I'm still very passionate about this sport. It's my way of seeing football and I'm happy with my decision.' As rumours of Fernandes' decision circulated earlier in the day, former United and England defender Gary Neville welcomed the reports as Amorim starts the process of reshaping his squad following a dismal season. Neville told Sky Sports News: 'It's significant. 'To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their lowest ebb and say, 'No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,' I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character.' United have already made one move in the transfer market this summer by signing Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and they are also being heavily linked with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. Departures could include Jadon Sancho, although latest reports have suggested Chelsea are prepared to pay a penalty fee to escape an obligation to make his current loan permanent.
