Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic has apologised to Sampdoria fans and assured his goal celebration was “not meant to provoke anyone.”
The 20-year-old found the net with a penalty at Marassi and stood in front of the Curva behind the goal with his fingers in his ears, staring at them.
This prompted a furious response from the crowd, his opponents and even his own teammates.
Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic has apologised to Sampdoria fans and assured his goal celebration was “not meant to provoke anyone.”
The 20-year-old found the net with a penalty at Marassi and stood in front of the Curva behind the goal with his fingers in his ears, staring at them.
This prompted a furious response from the crowd, his opponents and even his own teammates.
Sky Sport Italia reported Gaetano Castrovilli ordered Vlahovic to hand the second penalty to Federico Chiesa, partly as punishment and partly to avoid any further problems with the crowd.
“I want to apologise to the Sampdoria fans and clarify that it was nothing personal towards them, it was not insulting or in any way even aimed at them,” Vlahovic told Sky Sport Italia.
“I always celebrate like that, I’ve done it four or five times now. I just happened to be in front of the Sampdoria end and I apologise if it seemed to be provoking anyone, that was not my intention.
“I first saw Memphis Depay celebrate like that a few months ago and I liked it, so decided to copy that.”
Fiorentina eventually won the match 5-1.