Tottenham players were likely caught off guard as Brighton broke their promise and chose not to give them a guard of honour before Sunday’s match.
There was a festive atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, with fans in high spirits despite a 4-1 defeat. During injury time, the home crowd broke into unified song, celebrating more than just the match result.
The real highlight came when the Europa League trophy was paraded around the stadium during Spurs’ traditional end-of-season lap of honour, joined by players’ families. For long-suffering fans, it was a moment of pride and joy.
However, one promised gesture was noticeably missing. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler had stated before the match that his team would give Tottenham a guard of honour in recognition of their European triumph.
Yet, when the teams emerged from the tunnel, there was no such tribute. Both sides simply lined up for kick-off as usual, with Brighton quietly abandoning the planned gesture. The decision stood out, especially after league champions Liverpool had shown similar respect to Crystal Palace for their FA Cup win.
Despite the snub, Tottenham’s players were later honoured in a special way. After the match, Spurs legends such as Ossie Ardiles, Pat Jennings, and Martin Chivers formed a guard of honour for the current squad and manager Ange Postecoglou. These former greats, many of whom were part of the 1984 UEFA Cup-winning side, celebrated the club’s return to European glory.
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