After his last gasp equaliser, he still found time to console the referee
Virgil van Dijk made the headlines last night with a last gasp equaliser for the Netherlands to complete a comeback from 2-0 down to secure an all important point against Germany in the UEFA Nations League.
Netherlands managed to pip France to top spot in Group A1, securing a place in the final four of the competition, with the semi-finals set to take place in June 2019.
Van Dijk’s heroics continued after the match, though, when he approached the referee, Ovidiu Hategan.
It emerged before the game that Hategan’s mother had recently passed away, and Van Dijk took the chance after the final whistle to put his arm around the match official’s shoulder, offering words of support.
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Hategan was understandably very emotional, but Van Dijk did what he could to comfort the recently bereaved ref.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the Netherlands captain explained why he felt the need to approach the referee.
“That man broke down, stood with tears in his eyes because he had just lost his mother. I wished him strength and said that he had blown well. It’s a small thing, but maybe it helps him,” Van Dijk said.
