'Completely false': French journalist refutes claims emerging about Hugo Ekitike and Liverpool
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Hugo Ekitike has had to deal with plenty of unsavoury comments following his sending off during Liverpool’s midweek win over Southampton.
The Frenchman picked up a second yellow card after removing his shirt in celebration of scoring the winning goal.
There could be no arguments from Ekitike, who had earlier been booked after punching the ball away in frustration at a refereeing decision.
Arne Slot was not impressed with Ekitike after the game, and the 23-year-old has seen plenty of pundits weigh in to lambast his behaviour.
Former England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor suggested Slot must have given Ekitike a dressing down in front of the entire Liverpool squad after his needless red card.
Later on Thursday, there were further claims that the No.
22 had actually been fined by Liverpool for the incident.
However, this has now been declared to be untrue.
Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images
Reports that Ekitike was set to be fined for his sending off emerged from Merseyside based reporter Dominic King on Thursday.
Writing for The Daily Mail, King claimed that the France international would ‘likely’ be docked two weeks’ wages for his moment of ill-discipline.
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The journalist also wrote that ‘the biggest reprimand’ would come from inside the Liverpool dressing room, with Ekitike’s teammates unhappy with his avoidable sending off, which could have cost them.
However, according to French reporter Santi Aouna, suggestions that Ekitike will be punished for his red card are ‘completely’ false.’
“Completely false, the player has neither received a financial sanction nor a sporting sanction from the club,” Aouna wrote on X, in reply to a tweet relaying King’s assertions.
The mere suggestion that Ekitike should – or would – be fined for his sending off is a little bit of a ridiculous one.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt striker was wrong to do what he did against Southampton, and he was lucky it did not come back to bite Liverpool.
However, Ekitike has already apologised for his red card, explaining that emotion simply got the better of him.
While that is obviously disappointing, it is certainly not grounds to fine a young man getting settled in at a new club.
Slot will no doubt have spoken to Ekitike behind closed doors, as may senior figures in the playing squad.