World Cup winner Podolski sent off in charity match

[January 09, 2023] BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's World Cup winner Lukas Podolski has long dazzled crowds with his power and speed but he left fans at a charity match on Sunday speechless when he was sent off for dissent.

.

Germany's Lukas Podolski acknowledges fans after his final appearance for his country Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic

The 37-year-old former Bayern Munich and Arsenal forward, who now plays for Poland's Gornik Zabrze, was given his marching orders after he brought down an opponent in the indoor arena at Gummersbach during a charity match under his auspices.

He got up and walked to the referee, speaking to him and then coming face-to-face as he kept addressing him.

The 2014 World Cup winner eventually left the pitch before spraying water from the sidelines from a bottle.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.