In what might be a first in football, Andre-Pierre Gignac refused to celebrate and then apologised after scoring France’s penalty during their Group A match against Mexico in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.
Now, we have seen players opting not to celebrate after scoring against their former clubs countless times, but what Gignac did seems to have taken respect for one’s opponents to the next level.
And there is a huge reason for that as the Frenchman has become one with the North American nation because of his time at Tigres UANL.
🇲🇽 He’s broken records scoring goals in Mexico with @TigresOficial
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) July 22, 2021
🇫🇷 Now he’s scored against his adopted country with @FrenchTeam
👏At 35, it’s also Andre-Pierre Gignac’s first goal at a senior international tournament #OlympicFootball | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/vUDm5efRdu
The former Marseille striker has now spent six years at the Monterrey-based club. Besides enjoying a hero-like status, Gignac is also Tigres’ all-time top scorer.
Although his goal turned out to be inconsequential at best as Mexico went on to win the game 4-1, Gignac showed he felt heavy remorse about scoring a goal against a country he has developed such strong relations with.