Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Monday, 03 November 2025 21:35 / Updated Monday, 03 November 2025 21:35
Ricardinho (31 years old), the player from Petrolul Ploiești, was the protagonist of a rare moment in football in the match against the leader FC Botoșani, the match that closes the round of the regular season in the Super League.
The footballer escaped alone with Anestis, the goalkeeper tried to intervene by sliding, but did not touch the ball. Ricardinho was slightly touched by the goalkeeper from Botoșani, collapsed on the turf, but immediately after getting up he signaled that there are no circumstances to award a kick from 11 meters. The gesture of the Portuguese was also applauded by Miron, the captain of Leo Grozavu's team.
PHOTO. A rare gesture in the Petrolul Superliga – FC Botoșani: Ricardinho fell in the box, but signaled that he was not touched
After a rather apathetic first half, Ricardinho could open the scoring in the Ploiesti arena. Jyry found him with a perfect pass in the visitors' box. Ricardinho took over but was tackled by Anestis. Initially, Ricardinho threw himself, but when he got up he made the gesture captured by the TV cameras: he made a clear sign to the “central” Horia Mladinovic that there are no circumstances to give a shot from 11 meters.
Immediately after this gesture, the captain of FC Botoșani, Andrei Miron, came to shake the hand of his opponent who proved fair play.
The gesture was also commented on by former footballer Gabi Torje in the Digi Sport show after the break, joking: “A gesture of fair play that will cost him the starting position in the next match. I don't know if it was a penalty or a simulation. That's how Neagoe will take it after the match, like Miron took it. You stay here and don't play anymore. You have the fair play award, stay next to him at home”
The starting teams at Petrolul – FC Botoșani
Ploiesti Oil: Krell – Soares, Papp, Roche – Veiga, Mateiu, Dongmo, Sălceanu – Jyry, Chică Roşa, Grozav
reserves: Bălbarău, Onguene, D. Radu, Hanca, Doukansy, Tolea, Dumitrache, Boțogan, I. Paraschiv, V. Gheorghe, Doumtsios, L. Dumitriu
Coach: Eugene Neagoe
FC Botosani: Anestis – Adams, Miron, Diaw, Creț – Bordeianu, Petro – Mailat, Ongenda, Mitrov – Kovtaliuk
reserves: Kukic, Șigănașu, Pavlovic, Suta, Munoz, G. David, Caputa, D. Dumitru, Bodișteanu, A. Dumitru, Dumiter, E. Lopez
Absent: Narcis Ilaș (injured)
Coach: Awesome Leo
Up-to-date standings in the Superliga
