player apologizes
For captain Taulant Xhaka from FC Basel 1893, the Super League season came to an early end after a Zinedine Zidane-style freak out. The 32-year-old received a seven-game ban after his sensational red card, which he saw in the league game against FC Zurich (0-2) for a headbutt. He will miss another game because of the eighth yellow card, as the association announced on Monday.
The older brother of former Bundesliga professional Granit Xhaka apologized before the verdict was announced. “You know me as an emotional player,” Xhaka wrote on Instagram on Monday morning. “And we players are also flesh and blood people who react emotionally in certain situations.”
After a foul on Antonio Marchesano, Xhaka grabbed his opponent in the face and saw a yellow-red card for it. A few moments later he got carried away with a headbutt – the scene was often shared on social networks and compared to Zidane’s action in the 2006 World Cup final. Since Xhaka was already on his way to the dressing room, the referee summoned him back to show him the red card.
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“No verbal insults on the field against me and my family justify such a lapse,” Xhaka continued. Kasim Adams, on loan to Basel from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, had previously seen the red card due to an elbow blow (85′). Also against Wouter Burger (FCB) and Mirlind Kryeziu (FCZ) were sent off. This all took place in stoppage time, during which Basel also conceded goals from Roko Simic (90+1) and Ifeanyi Mathew (90+4).
In the Swiss Super League, where Basel would currently miss the European Cup in 5th place, there are still four game days to go. Basel are four points behind fourth-placed FC Luzern. In the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League, Basel will play the first leg of the semi-finals at Fiorentina on Thursday (21.00).
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