Tottenham condemns racist abuse of Mathys Tel after UEFA Super Cup

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham has slammed the "cowards" who racially abused French forward Mathys Tel after the team's loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup after a penalty shootout.

The 20-year-old Tel, who is Black, was one of two Tottenham players who failed to convert their penalties as they lost the shootout 4-3 to PSG after a 2-2 draw.

“We are disgusted at the racial abuse that Mathys Tel has received on social media following last night’s UEFA Super Cup defeat," Tottenham said in a statement.

“Mathys showed bravery and courage to step forward and take a penalty, yet those who abuse him are nothing but cowards — hiding behind anonymous user names and profiles to spout their abhorrent views."

Tottenham said the club will work with the authorities and social media platforms to take “the strongest possible action against any individual we are able to identify.”

“We stand with you, Mathys,” Spurs added.

Tel, who joined the team on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich in the offseason after a loan spell last season, went on as a substitute in the 79th minute when Tottenham was 2-0 ahead.

He hit his shootout penalty wide.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Tottenham's Mathys Tel warms up during a training session in Udine, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

PSG's Kang-in Lee, left, and Tottenham's Mathys Tel challenge for the ball during the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur in Udine, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Tottenham's Mathys Tel reacts during the penalty shootout the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur in Udine, Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Madison Keys lost in the Adelaide International quarterfinals to rising Canadian talent Victoria Mboko on Thursday, less than a week away from the start of her Australian Open title defense.

The 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 loss to Mboko followed last week's quarterfinal loss in the Brisbane International to top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who she beat at Melbourne Park last year for her first Grand Slam singles title.

Keys was the defending champion at Adelaide.

No. 8-seeded Mboko broke Keys early en route to winning the first set, but couldn’t compete with Keys' big serve in the second. Keys, seeded second at the WTA 500 event, had eight aces in the match, including six in the second set.

Mboko won 75% of her first-serve points in the third set and converted the lone breakpoint available to her. She’ll now face Kimberly Birrell of Australia in the semifinals.

Mboko was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year after winning the National Bank Open in Montreal and raising her ranking from No. 333 at the start of the season to No. 18.

The Australian Open begins on Sunday. Keys has been drawn to face Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in the first round of the year's first major. Mboko will open against Emerson Jones of Australia.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Victoria Mboko,right, and Cleeve Harper of Canada compete against Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs of Belgium in their doubles match at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)