Virgil van Dijk took time to console bereaved referee Ovidiu Hategan following the Netherlands 2-2 draw with Germany on Monday. The Dutch captain scored a 90th-minute equaliser in Gelsenkirchen to ensure his side finished top of Group A1 and sealed their place in the UEFA Nations League Finals. However, instead of immediately celebrating with his team-mates at full-time, Van Dijk went to speak with Romanian official Hategan, who can be seen wiping away tears as the Liverpool defender embraced him and offered words of encouragement following a family bereavement.
"The ref had just lost his mother," Van Dijk told Fox Sports after the match. "He broke down with tears in his eyes. I told him to stay strong and that he had refereed well. It's a small thing, but maybe it helps him". The gesture has impressed journalists and fans. “Referee Ovidiu Hategan recently lost his mother. Right after the FT whistle Virgil van Dijk went towards him to comfort him, while crying. This is beautiful,” AFC Ajax wrote.
Ovidiu Hategan’s mother died on Monday in hospital, after a long sufferance. The 38-year old referee learned about the news at half-time, informed by the family, as he had previously agreed, to be constantly informed about her health. (Source: SkySports / Romania Journal)