TOTTENHAM have been blocked from honouring a 98-year tradition before the Europa League final.
Ange Postecoglou’s side are taking on fellow Premier League strugglers Manchester United on Wednesday night in Bilbao.
Spurs were ready to lay flowers down at an iconic statue outside the San Mames in tribute to Bilbao goal legend Pichichi.
But their plans were foiled by Uefa on the eve of the final.
Tottenham arrived armed with flowers for captain Heung-min Son to place before the famous Pichichi bust.
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 remind Spurs the ceremony should only happen whey they play Athletic Bilbao and not a neural team.
The 49,600-seater stadium is handed over to Uefa for the event and they are in control of all logistics not Athletic Bilbao.
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.
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Rafael Moreno, an inside forward better known as Pichichi, died in 1922 at just 29 years old.
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.
He played for Spain in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, winning a silver medal.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
