Top clubs in Europe are competing for the signing of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, but it was the Romanian assistant referee who succeeded after the Norwegian striker signed him on Tuesday.
Television footage showed that one of the Romanian referees, who managed the Champions League quarter-final first-leg match that ended in Manchester City's 2-1 victory, contacted Haaland in the tunnel after the match to get his signature on his yellow card, and he actually succeeded in his request.
A referee's assistant should not be asking a player for autographs after a match in the tunnel as happened with Haaland.
UEFA won't want to see this surely pic.twitter.com/nA94n3k27W
- Rob Harris (@RobHarris) April 6, 2021
Haaland, 20, is one of the most promising talents in European football, and reports indicated that he is a candidate to move to City, Manchester United, Real Madrid or Barcelona.
It is never the norm for referees to require players to have their signatures after matches.