Maupay says he’d repeat darts mock of Maddison after Tottenham clash

Former Brentford and Brighton striker Neal Maupay, now with Marseille, sparked a brief feud in January 2024 when he mimicked James Maddison’s darts celebration after scoring in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a gesture that preceded Tottenham’s 3‑2 win and which Maupay says he would repeat without malice.

Never one to shy away from a bit of football banter, the former Brentford and Brighton striker has built a reputation for cheeky gestures. He tells, “I don’t usually plan celebrations because I like to react to my emotions. I just go with the flow of the game and how I feel at the time.”

Maupay’s darts tribute at Tottenham

In January 2024, while representing Marseille, Maupay scored in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and immediately mimicked James Maddison’s signature darts celebration. He later explained, “That’s what happened during that game, because I have no problem with James Maddison.” The two had faced each other nine times before, including when Maddison was at Leicester, and Maupay recalled they were always friendly.

War of words after Spurs’ 3‑2 win

The gesture ignited a mini war of words after Tottenham’s eventual 3‑2 victory. Maddison told, “He probably hasn’t scored enough goals in the last couple of years for his own celebration, so he probably had to copy mine!” Maupay responded on Instagram, reminding fans he has “more goals and less relegations” in his career.

Despite the exchange, Maupay insists there was no malice and says he would repeat the act. He added, “I actually haven’t spoken to him about it since. From what I heard, he wasn’t too happy about it. From my point of view, I think it was a good celebration and if I had to do it again, I would.”

The interview was arranged by YRDS, giving Maupay a platform to clarify his intentions. He emphasised that his aim was simply to entertain the front‑row fans with the atmosphere.