Romanian linesman Octavian Sovre who asked Erling Haaland to autograph his cards after the UEFA Champions League game between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund has been hit with a temporary suspension in his native Romania.
Reports later emerged in the Romanian media that he collected those signatures to auction it off and donate it to a charity for autism but that doesn’t exonerate him of going against UEFA officiating protocols.
According to Romanian journalist, Emanuel Rosu reported that the Romanian Referee’s Committee have now decided to take action against Sovre by issuing an officiating ban in Romania’s first tier for the time being.
BREAKING | The Romanian Refs' Committee decided to STOP assistant ref Sovre from refereeing for the time being. He will not be part of Hategan's officiating team on the last round of the regular season in the Romanian first tier. pic.twitter.com/ILsb3Dtqwk
Sovre, who was originally set to officiate in the final round of Liga I’s fixtures, has now been withdrawn from Ovidiu Hațegan’s team.
That decision has come after UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti had written to refereeing teams, warning them that requesting autographs from players was ‘unacceptable’.
“UEFA has strived to get you respected as much as the players and you have helped with that by looking the part: athletic, commanding, respectful and professional,” Rosetti wrote on Wednesday.
“If you want to be respected as much as the players, why would you ask for their autograph or their shirt? Do they ask you for the same?
“This is simply unacceptable, this is a matter of dignity and don’t forget about the number of TV cameras at UEFA matches – they catch everything.”
This is not the first time Sovre has been caught up in controversy, having been investigated by UEFA earlier this season for general misconduct for his actions in November’s Champions League game between Istanbul Basaksehir and Paris Saint-Germain.
Additional Reporting From Daily Mail.