The Schalke soccer professional Rabbi Matondo caused a big stir with a photo in the jersey of Borussia Dortmund. The picture shows the 19-year-old Welsh man doing pull-ups in a BVB jersey from Jadon Sancho during a private training session in a cardiff gym. The operator posted the recording on Instagram, but deleted it shortly afterwards.
Numerous Schalke fans had complained about the picture on social networks. “In such a situation, you can be included in the arch rival’s jersey? I find it disgusting!” Was one of the comments, for example. Others directly asked him to leave the club. BVB and Schalke 04 are local rivals. Their clashes in the Bundesliga as “revier derbies” are the highlights of the season for many fans.
Schalke sports director Jochen Schneider publicly criticized his kicker. “I made it clear to Rabbi Matondo on the phone what I thought of such a rash action,” Schneider told several media. “He is only 19 years old, but that shouldn’t happen to him.” He also apologized to Matondo. He was “clearly told that he had to show the right reaction to his misconduct on and off the pitch”.
Rabbi Matondo: “disappointed in myself”
At least the reaction next to the square was not long in coming. On Wednesday morning, Matondo published a long, humble statement about its channels on social networks. In German and in English, he apologized to “everyone who hurt or insulted me with my behavior”. He was “very sad and disappointed in myself that I let everyone who felt connected to Schalke down with it,” he wrote. Jadon Sancho, who, like Matondo, comes from the Manchester City youth, is a close friend of his and he only put the shirt on because of this, the professional added. He did not think about the consequences and that it would annoy many people. “There is no excuse for this immature behavior,” he continued.
On the square he will have the opportunity to appease fans for the photo faux pas in September at the earliest. Matondo was used across the competition 22 times for the Royal Blues in the past season. The winger scored four goals, two of them in the Bundesliga.
Swell: Twitter Rabbi Matondo / Transfermarkt / “Kicker” / Twitter Fan
