Dedryck Boyata of German Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin was a major talking point when a picture surfaced on the internet which suggested that the German international gave a teammate, Marko Grujic, a kiss during a match at the weekend.
The match was Hertha Berlin’s first match since the German Bundesliga returned from the over two months coronavirus break. It was between Berlin and Hoffenheim. It ended 3-0 in favour of Boyata’s team. The match, just like the other matches of the German Bundesliga, was played behind closed doors.
So, when the picture allegedly showing Boyata kissing Grujic surfaced on the internet, people who probably did not have the opportunity to watch the match from the right camera angles started speculating that the 29-year-old former Manchester City defender kissed his teammate while celebrating a goal.
Hence, Dedryck Boyata had to take to Instagram to post a video of the incident from the right camera angle to clarify the issue. In the video he posted, it could be seen that the German international approached Grujic from behind in the opponents’ box 18. Boyata held Grujic by the neck and whispered something to him while the team was setting out to score from a set-piece, an effort that ended in futility.
In the caption, the 2009-2010 Young Player of the Year in Manchester City, wrote that he was just giving Grujic who is on loan from Liverpool, an instruction that would help them convert the incoming cross.
He, however, apologised for putting his hands on the player which is against the guidelines put out to guide the activities of players on the field in all the remaining matches in the 2019-2020 season.
“It wasn’t a Kiss, neither a Celebration”, Boyata wrote on Instagram. “I apologize for putting my hands on @grujicmarko face. I was giving him instructions about a set-piece.
“We must definitely be careful now that we play under this situation. We have to adapt our way to play or celebrate.”
His coach Bruno Labbadia, came to his rescue and defended his defender’s action. The Hertha Berlin’s coach said: “I hope people understand this. It is only a recommendation to hold back. We have tested negative six times, most recently yesterday. Emotions are also a part of it.”
As at the time of publishing this report, German Bundesliga was yet to issue a statement in reaction to the breach of its social distancing guidelines.
