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The Romanian linesman Octavian Sovre has been punished for his controversial autograph request to the Dortmund star striker Erling Haaland.

Contrary to what was planned, he is no longer part of the referee team for the first division game between Universitatea Craiova and champions CFR Cluj scheduled for Sunday.

This is reported by the Romanian sports daily "Gazeta Sporturilor".

Kyros Vassaras, President of the Romanian Referees Commission, temporarily suspended Sovre because of the incident with Haaland.

Sovre had previously justified his unusual request by saying that it was for a good cause.

He has been systematically collecting autographs from various athletes for a long time, which are then sold to a Romanian association to support autistic people.

Octavian Sovres' yellow and red cards, signed by Erling Haaland

Source: via REUTERS

Sovre had asked for an autograph on Tuesday evening after Borussia Dortmund's quarter-final first leg in the football Champions League at Manchester City (1: 2) when he walked into the dressing room, as could be seen on the English TV provider BT Sport.

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Uefa then internally condemned Sovre's behavior.

In a letter to the referee teams, the association described it as unacceptable and unworthy to get autographs from players.

Lionel Messi gave him nine autographs

The SOS Autism association from Sovre's home region of Bihor defended the line judge and offered him honorary membership.

Thank you for the donations, without which the association could not work, said chairwoman Simona Zlibut to the portal "gsp.ro".

Sovre estimates that he collected about 250 autographs and gave them away to SOS Autism.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi even gave him nine autographs after explaining that they were for a good cause.

His autograph hunt has always been discreet.

But now, by chance, a TV camera in Manchester recorded his meeting with Haaland.