Tottenham's Spence and Van de Ven Face Controversy for Allegedly Snubbing Manager's Handshake After Chelsea Match

Tottenham Hotspur's Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven are facing controversy after allegedly refusing to shake hands with manager Thomas Frank following their match against Chelsea. On November 2nd (Korean time), in the 10th round of the 2025-2026 English Premier League (EPL) held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Tottenham lost 0-1 to Chelsea. After the game, as manager Frank approached the players to shake hands, Spence and Van de Ven reportedly ignored him and headed to the locker room.

Tottenham failed to add any points in their home match against Chelsea, suffering a scoreless defeat. Tottenham appeared outmatched by Chelsea in both attack and defense. There are concerns that Spence and Van de Ven's behavior after the match could negatively impact the team's atmosphere.

According to match statistics, Tottenham recorded only three shots against Chelsea, with only one on target. In contrast, Chelsea led the attack, threatening Tottenham's goal on multiple occasions. Additionally, Tottenham committed 14 fouls and received four yellow cards.

With this loss, Tottenham remains in 4th place in the league with a record of 5 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses. After a strong start to the season, Tottenham has been underperforming in recent matches. Chelsea, with this win, added points and laid the groundwork for a leap into the top ranks.

Immediately after the game, manager Thomas Frank approached the players to shake hands. Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven refused to shake Thomas' hand and went straight to the locker room. Spence seemed to say something to Thomas as he passed.

Manager Thomas Frank mentioned that Spence and Van de Ven had performed well this season. However, he did not specifically comment on the two players' refusal to shake hands.

Son Heung-min currently plays for LAFC. Yang Min-hyuk plays for Portsmouth.

The controversy surrounding Spence and Van de Ven's actions has spread through social media, with fans offering various opinions. Some fans criticize the players' behavior as rude and unprofessional, while others speculate that there may be conflict with the manager.

This incident raises concerns about potential internal problems within the Tottenham team. Teamwork is a crucial factor in soccer, and trust between players and the manager significantly impacts the team's success. Tottenham must use this controversy as an opportunity to refresh the team atmosphere and prepare for the next match as a united front.

Some analysts suggest that this incident may not be merely a matter of individual player behavior, but rather related to a decline in team morale. Recently, Tottenham has been underperforming, disappointing fans. The pressure felt by the players in this situation may have been expressed through this incident.

Tottenham has not released an official statement regarding this controversy. However, it is understood that the club internally recognizes the seriousness of the incident and is in the process of meeting with the players to determine the exact circumstances. Attention is focused on how Tottenham will resolve this controversy and restore the team's atmosphere.