Rabbi Matondo forced into grovelling apology to Schalke after training in rival Dortmund shirt with Jadon Sancho on back
RABBI MATONDO has been forced to issue a grovelling apology to Schalke fans after wearing a Jadon Sancho shirt from fierce local rivals Borussia Dortmund!
The Welshman wore the number seven shirt of ex-Manchester City team-mate Sancho for a personal training session.
But the move backfired as the gym picture was released on Instagram before it was later deleted.
However, the pic angered Schalke fans and also prompted a warning to Matondo from the German club over his unacceptable conduct.
Matondo, 19, posted on Instagram: “A sincere apology to Schalke and all the fans” before adding a longer statement on his account.
“Addressing the pictures circulated on social media of me in the shirt of our biggest rivals.
I wore it because it was Jadon’s and not because of anything to do with Dortmund. I did this not thinking of the consequences and how upset I would make a lot of people
Rabbi Matondo
“I am very sad and disappointed in myself for letting everyone associated with Schalke down.
“I want to clear this situation up and most importantly to apologise to everyone at the club, in particular our incredible fans. Causing such hurt and upset was absolutely not my intention.
“Being completely transparent I naively wore the shirt for a private personal training session. The shirt was my very close friend Jadon Sancho’s shirt.
“I wore it because it was Jadon’s and not because of anything to do with Dortmund. I did this not thinking of the consequences and how upset I would make a lot of people.
“There’s no excuse for my immaturity. I just want to say how deeply sorry I am to everyone offended and upset by my actions.”
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Schalke sports director Jochen Schneider told Sky Germany: “I made it clear to Rabbi Matondo on the phone what I thought of such a rash action.
“He is only 19 years old but he should not have allowed this to happen. We clearly told him that he had to show the right reaction to his misconduct on and off the pitch.”
Matondo joined Sancho in Germany when he quit City for Schalke in a £10million move in January 2019.
The four-cap Wales winger has a contract with the Bundesliga club until the summer of 2023.
Schalke, which is a district of the city of Gelsenkirchen, is about 20 miles from Dortmund.
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Matondo added: “I can only promise everyone at the club that I am 100 per cent committed to Schalke and always have been since joining the club.
“I’ve loved every single minute of being a Schalke player and my love for the club, fans and my team-mates will never go.
“I will always give everything I have when I represent the club to show how much I love Schalke.”