Union Berlin have won the 2022/23 Fair Play of the Season Award after their act of kindness saw goal celebrations cut short after a photographer hurt himself in a fall while snapping the moment that saw Sheraldo Becker put the club in a 2-1 lead against Schalke. The players halted their celebration to call for medical help before the photographer made a full recovery.
Other nominations for the award included Köln players consoling Marvin Schwäbe after his mistake gave RB Leipzig a 1-0 lead. On MD21, Jeremie Frimpong kicked the ball away in frustration, which accidently hit a young boy in the face before the Dutchman immediately apologised and at the final whistle, gave the boy his match-worn shirt.
A game between Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim resulted in a ballboy entering the pitch to retrieve the ball before it had gone out of play. With no knowing of whether it was going out for a throw-in or if a player would keep the ball in play, Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner asked for a drop-ball before kicking it out for a throw-in.
Bochum’s Keven Schlotterbeck scored a 94th minute equaliser which sent Hertha Berlin down but instead of celebrating after the final whistle, the defender’s immediate thoughts was to go and console the Hertha players following their relegation.
In the 2. Bundesliga, Magdeburg’s Jamie Lawrence collapsed on the pitch and received treatment. Karlsruhe fans provided their flags to offer the visiting Lawrence some shade and privacy while the player received medical help.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
