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Referee's Are Now Flipping Credit Cards Instead Of Coins And The Game Is Gone

Referee's Are Now Flipping Credit Cards Instead Of Coins And The Game Is Gone

There's a reason behind the madness...

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Just moments after he asked Mesut Ozil to sign his autograph on a yellow card, the referee of Arsenal's pre-season tie against Paris Saint-Germain decided to flip a credit card rather than a coin.

There was a reason behind the madness. The International Champions Cup is sponsored by Union Pay International, who opted to jump on the opportunity to show off their credit card, because y'know, coin tosses are so last season.

Arsenal eventually won the tie 5-1, thanks to Mesut Ozil, Rob Holding, Eddie Nketiah and a brace from Alexandre Lacazette, but this bizarre moment before kick-off was a big talking point on social media.

This wasn't the only bizarre event to happen before today's game.



In a remarkable sequence of events, the referee, of all people, looks to ask the Arsenal captain for his autograph ahead of the club's pre-season friendly against Paris Saint-Germain, this afternoon.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

Mesut Ozil, who opened the scoring in the 13th minute of the International Champions Cup tie, happily accepted and penned his signature on the yellow card before walking his team out at the National Stadium, Singapore.

I understand that it's not exactly the biggest of games, but still - is this really necessary?

PSG fielded an under-strength side against Arsenal, with the likes of Tim Weah starting for the Ligue 1 champions, but Arsenal struggled to make any real impact in the first half.

Ozil, on the other hand, has proved his doubters wrong with a goal in the opening 13 minutes.

The German midfielder announced his retirement from international football last week, citing 'racism' and 'disrespect' as the reason. He made a lengthy statement, which included:

"The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten."

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Football, PSG, Arsenal

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

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