Furious BVB coach following alleged assault on professional personnel
Borussia Dortmund Secures DFB-Pokals Second Round Berth, but Yan Couto's Injury Casts a Shadow
Rot-Weiss Essen's Kelsey Owusu was at the centre of an incident that marred Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 win in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. The incident involved a brutal tackle on Yan Couto, who was substituted in for the injured Julian Ryerson during the match.
The tackle occurred near Couto's own corner flag, with Owusu charging in from the side and making contact with Couto at high speed. Couto was treated off the pitch and carried off by medics after the incident.
Initially, Dortmund feared a serious injury as Couto had to be stretchered off. However, recent updates suggest that Couto has avoided any structural damage, including no injury to his cruciate ligament. He is expected to be available for the upcoming Bundesliga match against St. Pauli.
Niko Kovac, the coach of Borussia Dortmund, is furious about the tackle and considers it grossly negligent and an "attack". Kovac expressed concern about Couto's condition, hoping it's just a bad bruise, and stated they will have to wait for tests. Yan Couto's teammate, Julian Brandt, also expressed concern for Couto's wellbeing, hoping he is okay.
Uwe Koschinat, coach of Rot-Weiss Essen, acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and considered it an unfortunate, over-eager situation. The VAR was not in use in the first round of the Pokal, which may have influenced the referee's decision. The referee, Frank Willenborg, only showed Kelsey Owusu a yellow card, a decision that Brandt and others consider a major mistake.
The win was secured by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel's multiple saves and striker Serhou Guirassy's 79th-minute goal. Despite the shadow cast by the incident, Borussia Dortmund advances to the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
[1] Sky Germany [2] BILD [3] Goal [5] ESPN
Financial aid for Yan Couto's medical expenses could be sought by Borussia Dortmund from Rot-Weiss Essen's community, given the serious tackle on Couto during their DFB-Pokal match. In the spirit of sportsmanship, a community aid fund could help alleviate the costs associated with Couto's recovery, especially since Rot-Weiss Essen's coach acknowledged the severity of the incident.
Meanwhile, the financial aid provided by FIFA's Futsal World Cup for promoting football growth worldwide could potentially be utilized by Rot-Weiss Essen to reinforce their training programs, with a renewed focus on educating players about sportsmanship and fair play. This initiative could help reduce incidents like the one involving Kelsey Owusu and Yan Couto, fostering a safer and more respectful environment for all players.
