The signature that assistant referee Octavian Sovre asked of Erling Braut Haaland on Tuesday evening, he has not kept to himself. The Romanian sports newspaper has that Gazeta Sporturilor confirmed. Sovre has donated the yellow and red card, on which Haaland left his initials after the quarter final in the Champions League between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund (2-1), to charity. The chairman of the foundation is grateful to her fellow countryman and says that the assistant referee has been committed to children with autism for years.
The call for a signature came to a lot of criticism for Sovre after the game. “You can be a fan, but you can’t do this in front of other players,” said Owen Hargreaves in the studio of BT Sport. “It just doesn’t look good.” Also Josep Guardiola was confronted with the incident at the press conference, but did not want to take it too seriously. After the first quarter final, Haaland was approached by Sovre in the tunnel. Noor for a signature and took out his yellow and red card. The Borussia Dortmund attacker was just astonished, but still put his mark.
Haaland’s signed cards will go to an auction to help people with autism. That’s why Romanian ref Sovre was running after Erling last night at the Etihad. #MCIBVB #bvb pic.twitter.com/QcOcNh90jQ
– Emanuel Rosu (@Emishor) April 7, 2021
“That signature is for a good cause,” says Simona Zlibut, chairman of the relevant foundation that works for people with autism in the Bihor region. “Maybe a lot of people don’t know, but Tavi is directly involved in supporting our association. We are an accredited center for adults with severe autism, of which there are only five in Romania. I have no words to thank Sovre, he has helped us for many years. ”
Zlibut says she has been friends with the Romanian assistant referee since childhood, who has done important work for the foundation over the years. “We were classmates in kindergarten,” the chairman continues. “We can’t finance ourselves in any other way. When we call people and ask for money, it often feels unfamiliar. Sovre ensures that we can collect shirts, signatures, photos and other items for an auction. we use retrieval for autism-related therapies. “