Mohammed Kudus scored a free kick for Ajax against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday, and proceeded to celebrate by lifting his jersey over his head.
According to the laws of the game, that would necessitate an automatic yellow card. But this wasn’t an ordinary celebration, and referee Pol van Boekel knew it.
Kudus scored late in Ajax’s 4-0 win and revealed a shirt with the message “R.I.P. Atsu” — a tribute to Christian Atsu, who was found dead under the rubble in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this month.
After a 12-day search, Atsu’s body was finally found on Saturday, the day before Ajax took the pitch.
Speaking to ESPN after the game, Kudus said that Van Boekel allowed his tribute to go unpunished because the message went beyond sport.
“We all know what’s going on in Turkey and that part of the world,” the 22-year-old said. “Atsu was the one close to me but I dedicate that goal to him and everyone who had families and all the people involved in the Turkey earthquakes.
“We are footballers but this is beyond football. We are talking about life and death. The ref told me this is not allowed but he understands because this is a bigger situation than just playing football.
“A big respect from me to the referee for understanding the whole situation.”
Kudus said that his fellow Ghanaian had served as a mentor to him.
“I learned a lot from watching him, he also regularly gave me advice. Everything I gave today was for him.
“If I hadn’t have scored, I would have shown the shirt after the game.”
Mohammed Kudus was meant to receive a yellow card for his tribute to Christian Atsu but referee Pol van Boekel opted not to book him, telling the Ajax forward he understands "this is a bigger situation than football.”
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— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 20, 2023
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