Former Ajax and FC Groningen defender apologises for headbutt

Deyovaisio Zeefuik has apologized to Hertha BSC supporters via Instagram after the 26-year-old right-back was sent off for headbutting FC Köln defender Timo Hübers in their DFB Pokal clash.

Hertha were leading 1-0 in the round of 16 away from home thanks to Ibrahim Maza’s penalty, when Zeefuik endured a moment of madness in the 25th minute. The former Ajax and FC Groningen player headbutted Hübers during a free-kick for the hosts amid a scuffle in the box and was shown a straight red card by the eagle-eyed referee Tobias Reichel.

Hertha went on to lose after their hosts fought back through an own goal from Florian Niederlechner before Dejan Ljubicic penalty won it at the end of extra-time.

Zeefuik apologized afterwards via Instagram. “I let the team and the fans down. I am proud of how the team fought and the team spirit they showed.”

Coach Christian Fiel was critical of Zeefuik after the game. “This mistake should not happen to him”, the 44-year-old German said in an interview with Bild.

Teammate Fabian Reese was a little less harsh. “Deyo knows better than anyone that he did the team a disservice. I saw him in the dressing room and he knows what he did.”

Zeefuik, who has been with Hertha since 2020, will likely have to miss a number of matches due to a suspension. “He mainly has himself to blame with this”, Reese continued. “Nobody is perfect. He made a mistake and he realizes that. He will learn from that and so will we. We are a team, even in difficult times. We have to show that now.”

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield