Tottenham Hotspur became the first away team to win at the newly inaugurated Hill Dickinson Stadium as they saw off Everton 3-0, thanks to a brace by Micky Van De Ven and a goal from Pape Matar Sarr.
The latter, however, did not celebrate his header which went straight past Jordan Pickford.
Fans quickly took notice of this rather unusual behavior from the Senegalese international.
Whyyy was sarr not celebrating 🤍 #coys pic.twitter.com/8kgwtFKGbQ
— Jess Iszatt (@jjiszatt) October 26, 2025
Sarr was a crucial piece of the puzzle for former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglu’s Europa League winning squad and has managed 2 goals and 2 assists this season, nearing his best tally already.
The 23 year-old was seen visibly unanimated after making the score 3-0, fans online have speculated that it might be due to his lack of minutes under Thomas Frank’s reign.
Sarrboy seals it! 💫 pic.twitter.com/RhdM4sKVZ5
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 26, 2025
Despite being given less chances to feature on the pitch, the Senegalese midfielder has proved himself to be one of the best players in the squad and has been outstanding this season.
Sarr played around 90 minutes, both in the Europa League Final, and the Super Cup against Man United and PSG, respectively, with the latter being Frank’s first game in charge.
He also managed almost 90 minutes in all 5 of Spurs’ opening 5 matches in the 25/26 season including the visit from Spanish side Villarreal in the Champions League.
He would not feature in the next game against Brighton, having sat on the bench for the entire game as an unused substitute.
In fact, he has only managed a little shy of 130 minutes across 6 matches with 2 of them being in the Champions League.
The same number of minutes he played in 2 matches for the Senegal National Team amidst these Tottenham fixtures in the month of October.
The Danish manager has yet to comment on Sarr’s reaction, but within the club, he remains highly regarded for his attitude and maturity beyond his years.
Sources around the team suggest the players have rallied around him, aware of how much the tragedy back home has affected him.
WHAT COULD BE THE REAL REASON
On October 20, Pape Sarr shared some rather devastating news about the passing of Cheikh Toure, a young Senegalese goalkeeper who was tricked into attending a trial in Ghana before getting abducted and extorted for ransom.
Sarr, who took to Twitter and said, “Gone far too soon, under circumstances that remind us all how urgent it is to protect our young talents from false dreams and the traps of certain networks…. May justice be served, rest in peace little brother.”
Sarr’s muted celebration, then, might not have been about football at all. Losing someone from his homeland under such cruel circumstances is bound to leave an emotional mark.
Yet, the fact that he still stepped onto the pitch and delivered a composed performance speaks volumes about his character and resilience. Football fans across the world have since expressed their support for the young midfielder, urging him to take the time he needs to heal.
