Arsenal defender used opponent's towel to wipe the ball

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori was warned by the referee after his illegal act of wiping the ball, in the match between Newcastle and Arsenal in round 6 of the Premier League.

Calafiori (left) tried to use goalkeeper Nick Pope's towel to wipe the ball - Photo: THE SUN

In Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Newcastle in round 6 of the Premier League on the night of September 28, fans witnessed a humorous and... illegal situation from defender Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal).

Specifically, in the 28th minute of the match, while preparing to take a throw-in, Calafiori suddenly ran straight towards the opponent's goal.

He quickly grabbed Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope's personal towel, then turned back to the sidelines with the intention of using it to clean the ball.

This unusual action did not escape the eyes of the referee. The king of the field immediately stepped forward and firmly "confiscated" the towel from the Italian player's hand.

The reason lies in IFAB rule 4 - player equipment and clothing. According to this rule, any item other than the playing outfit or legal accessories (such as towels, water bottles, bibs...) are not allowed on the field during the match, to avoid causing danger or affecting the match. However, in this case, these are personal items of the opponent so the Arsenal player has no right to use them.

Calafiori was clearly surprised and bewildered by the referee's reaction. After an unsuccessful argument, the Arsenal defender had to accept the "traditional option" of wiping the ball with his own shirt before continuing with the throw-in.

In this match, Calafiori started in a back four with Gabriel, Mosquera and Timber. The defender born in 2002 had a not-so-stellar day, and had to leave the field in the 70th minute of the match.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hau-ve-arsenal-lay-khan-mat-cua-doi-thu-de-lau-bong-20250929143436573.htm