“Great to behave like that” – Gregoritsch’s fair play tops HSV draw! | OneFootball

Michael Gregoritsch was at the center of attention during HSV’s 1:1 draw with FC Augsburg, mainly because of one particular incident.

It was the 45th minute when the striker went down near the Hamburg penalty area after a challenge with Fábio Vieira. Referee Deniz Aytekin hesitated briefly, but then awarded the visitors a free kick from 17 meters out. It was the wrong decision, though: Gregoritsch had stepped on Vieira’s foot while trying to shield the ball. Both players needed lengthy treatment, which gave Aytekin time to rethink his decision.

“At first, I was sure about the whistle and thought Vieira had taken Gregoritsch’s legs away. But at the moment I blew the whistle, I saw Vieira clutching his Achilles tendon and in severe pain. The Augsburg players were also a bit surprised. That’s when I started having my first doubts and thought: Oh God, that was wrong,” reported the experienced referee, who will end his career in a few weeks (via Mopo).

Photo: Getty Images

Aytekin heaps praise on Gregoritsch

Internally, he said to himself that he wanted to resolve the confusing situation fairly. “Then I asked Michael Gregoritsch – and what he did was a textbook example of mutual appreciation, respect, and fairness,” Aytekin praised. Gregoritsch himself said: “Deniz and I have known each other in the Bundesliga for ten years now, so you can have a quick chat.” In any case, he said he had always tried to be fair.

The Austrian international, who played for HSV between 2015 and 2017, was immediately applauded for his actions, but such behavior is anything but a given. In a time when even throw-in decisions at the halfway line often cause major uproar on both sides, it is a rarity for a professional player to give up a free kick in a promising position when asked by the referee.

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That is why HSV coach Merlin Polzin praised him: “Gregoritsch’s behavior before halftime was highly commendable. It definitely deserves more attention than some other situations on the pitch.” Because, he said, “it’s great to behave like that.” His opposite number Manuel Baum generally praised his player’s action as well, but also criticized it: “I don’t think it’s good that the referee then asks a player. Because what would have happened if he had said it wasn’t a foul? Then he would be the villain now.”

Gregoritsch, who narrowly missed the winning goal twice while his side had the extra man, chose the honest path and won a great deal of sympathy in doing so—something that can sometimes be worth more than a routine three points.

Photo: Getty Images

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.