EURO 2020: Rudiger regrets Pogba incident during Germany-France game

The incident between Paul Pogba and Antonio Rudiger happened on Tuesday towards the end of the first half during France's 1-0 win against Germany at Euro 2020.

Published : Jun 16, 2021 20:40 IST

"I am not crying for cards, you know red cards, because of such actions,” Paul Pogba (C) said, adding he and Antonio Rudiger were friends (File Photo).
"I am not crying for cards, you know red cards, because of such actions,” Paul Pogba (C) said, adding he and Antonio Rudiger were friends (File Photo).
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"I am not crying for cards, you know red cards, because of such actions,” Paul Pogba (C) said, adding he and Antonio Rudiger were friends (File Photo).

Holding France midfielder Paul Pogba from behind, Germany defender Antonio Rudiger appeared to open his mouth and lightly bite his opponent's back. Pogba said the German “nibbled” on him, and Rudiger said he regrets doing it.

The incident happened on Tuesday towards the end of the first half during France's 1-0 win at the European Championships.

“I shouldn’t go like that with my mouth to his back — no question — it looks unfortunate,” Rudiger said on Wednesday. “Paul and I spoke very amicably after the final whistle, and he confirmed to me and then again in an interview that it wasn’t a bite, like one or other outsiders said at first.”

The Germany defender had said before the game that his team would need to be “disgusting” to beat the World Cup champion. And then came that moment with Pogba.

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“He nibbled, I think, a little bit on me,” Pogba said after the game. “I felt it, I told the referee, and he makes the decisions, and he took a decision. It’s over. I just want to play football. He hasn’t received any cards. I think it’s better like this.”

Pogba, whose incisive play from midfield helped France win the match, said the incident was “nothing big” and “belongs to the past."

"I am not crying for cards, you know red cards, because of such actions,” Pogba said, adding he and Rudiger were friends and had known each other for a long time. UEFA said on Wednesday it was not opening a disciplinary case against Rudiger.

Rudiger said before the UEFA decision he did not expect any retrospective punishment for the incident. Neither Spanish referee Carlos del Cerro Grande nor video assistant Juan Martinez Munuera took any action despite being aware of it.

“The referee told me during the game," Rudiger said, "that he would have punished me if he considered it a violent act.”

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