Georgian football player receives FIFA Fair Play Award for life-saving intervention
The FIFA Fair Play Award is presented in recognition of “exemplary fair play behaviour” on or off the pitch. It is handed out for examples of respect towards opponents, officials and fans, acts against discrimination, and promoting fair play based on the rules of the game. Photo from FIFA's Twitter.
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Luka Lochoshvili, a 25-year-old Georgian footballer, on Monday was honoured with the FIFA Fair Play Award recognising his life-saving intervention to help an opposing player during last year’s Austrian Bundesliga match.
"Le cose più importanti nel calcio sono il fair play e il rispetto. Io ho agito d'istinto, ma colgo l'occasione per sottolineare l'importanza di conoscere le giuste procedure in questi casi. Può rivelarsi fondamentale"
— U.S. Cremonese (@USCremonese) February 27, 2023
Luka, siamo orgogliosi di te! ❤️❤️???????????????? pic.twitter.com/8rNMrLjpiZ
The full back was selected for the prize ahead of the Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, with the recognition related to his quick intervention on the pitch to help Austria Vienna’s right back Georg Teigl, after the latter had been knocked unconscious following a collision.
#Lochoshvili ha ricevuto il premio "Best emotion of the year" per quanto accaduto in Austria Vienna-Wolfsberg ????
— U.S. Cremonese (@USCremonese) October 11, 2022
Dopo aver visto un avversario privo di sensi si è subito scagliato a soccorrerlo e a salvargli la vita ????????
Negli abbracci da parte degli avversari, c'è tutto ❤️????⤵️ pic.twitter.com/IlAZ8RyluF
The incident came during a game between Austria and Wolfsberger AC in February 2022, with Lochoshvili performing emergency procedures to clear the airways of his unconscious counterpart. The Georgian defender’s efforts were followed by Teigl regaining his consciousness shortly after.
In his comments on the Award, Lochoshvili, who currently plays for the Italian club Cremonese, called it a “huge honour”.
I’m very happy for this respect, but I’m happier because I saved Georg’s life. The most important thing in football is fair play and respect. So, I am really happy he is alive and feels good with his family”, Lochoshvili said while accepting the prize at the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Paris.
The FIFA Fair Play Award is presented in recognition of “exemplary fair play behaviour” on or off the pitch. It is handed out for examples of respect towards opponents, officials and fans, acts against discrimination, and promoting fair play based on the rules of the game.