The Nigeria international was dismissed for violent conduct in his side’s first game of the season to earn himself a two-match suspension
UEFA Vice President Zbigniew Boniek has advised Victor Osimhen to avoid actions that could see him enter the referee’s bad books, following the Nigerian forward’s red card in Napoli’s clash against Venezia at the weekend.
Osimhen has been in spectacular preseason form for Napoli, with the Super Eagles striker netting a brace in his side’s 3-1 defeat of former European champions Bayern Munich.
The ex-Lille lad was expected to carry that fine form into the new season. Still, he only lasted 23 minutes in the Serie A opener after being shown a straight red for catching Venezia star Daan Heymans in the face with his arm during a corner-kick situation.
Many analysts felt a red card was unjustified as a yellow card would have sufficed. But the Italian football authorities on Tuesday confirmed that Osimhen would miss Napoli’s next two Serie A matches against Genoa and Juventus on August 29 and September 11.
However, Uefa VP Boniek believes the Nigerian striker is a passionate player and has charged him to learn from this ugly experience.
“The expulsion of Osimhen? They are hundredths of a second reactions, scams that can happen,” the former Polish international forward told Radio Kiss Kiss.
“But we must make the players understand that such behaviours must be avoided.
“He (Osimhen) is always very heated; he is quick and fast. But he’ll benefit from this episode.”
Despite Osimhen’s dismissal, Napoli handed a 2-0 defeat to the newly-promoted Venezia at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium courtesy of strikes from Lorenzo Insigne and Eljif Elmas.
The Nigerian international would have to wait a bit longer, though, to add to the ten goals he scored in 24 Serie A matches last season.
This post was last modified on August 24, 2021 6:42 pm