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KEEPER BILLED FOR TURF DAMAGE Augsburg’s Hitz sabotaged penalty
A Swiss goalkeeper who deliberately cut up the penalty spot with his studs before the opposition took a kick in the Bundesliga, has been billed for his wanton destruction of the turf.
Augsburg's Marwin Hitz hit the international headlines last weekend after cameras captured him digging his heel into the turf around the penalty spot and twisting his studs to cut up the ground. Moments later when Cologne's Anthony Modeste ran in to take the penalty, he slipped up, seemingly on the exact spot, only managing to get off a tame shot which Hitz easily put round the post.
Whilst Hitz escaped direct punish from the league, Cologne have now sent him a bill for €122.92 (£89.24) to compensate for the patch of turf he destroyed. The Guardian reports that this figure covers the cost of repairing the pitch, which included buying a square metre of turf for €22.50, employing a member of groundstaff for two hours (€40.25) and tax. The club have pledged to donate the amount to a local children's hospital.
Hitz who initially played down the down the incident has since admitted his wrong doing. On Twitter he said, "With a wink, I like to pay my debts. In addition, I will make a donation to the children’s hospital.”