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Khusanov sent a signed “I am sorry” jersey to the cameraman injured during Uzbekistan’s World Cup opener, following a heavy touchline collision against Colombia.
Khusanov accidentally ran into the cameraman whilst trying to execute a tackle on Luis Diaz (X)
Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov has reached out to the cameraman injured during an accidental collision in his country’s historic FIFA World Cup debut, sending a signed jersey carrying a simple but heartfelt message: “I am sorry.”
The incident occurred during Uzbekistan’s opening Group K clash against Colombia on Wednesday, a match that marked the Central Asian nation’s first-ever appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Collision Overshadows Historic Occasion
The unfortunate moment came in the first half when Khusanov sprinted to challenge Colombia star Luis Diaz near the touchline.
In his attempt to keep the ball in play and close down the winger, the Manchester City defender lost control of his momentum and crashed into a broadcast cameraman positioned alongside the pitch.
🚨🇺🇿 Khusanov’s tackle obliterates Luis Diaz and the cameraman. 😱⚽ Camera worth thousands of dollars destroy with the operator needing medical attention🚑💥 pic.twitter.com/LxftcZkBIy— City Exclusives (@city_exclusives) June 18, 2026
Medical personnel immediately attended to the injured operator before he was transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
While Khusanov was shown a yellow card for the challenge, concern quickly shifted from the game itself to the condition of the cameraman.
Personal Gesture From Khusanov
On Thursday, the Uzbekistan Football Association revealed that federation representatives visited the injured cameraman and delivered a jersey signed by Khusanov.
Along with the shirt, the 22-year-old defender included a handwritten apology and wished the cameraman a speedy recovery.
Abdukodir Khusanov accidentally ran into a cameraman during Uzbekistan’s match against Colombia 📹💥After the final whistle, he found the cameraman, signed his jersey and handed it to him with a simple message:
🗣️ ‘I am sorry!’ 🇺🇿 pic.twitter.com/0dm2k0JnA3
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) June 18, 2026
“The defender also conveyed his sincere wishes for a speedy recovery and sent his regards to the operator,” the federation said in a statement shared on social media.
The gesture has been widely praised as a classy response from one of Uzbekistan’s biggest football stars.
Rising Star of Uzbek Football
Although Uzbekistan suffered a 3-1 defeat to Colombia in their World Cup opener, Khusanov remains one of the country’s most important players and a symbol of its growing football ambitions.
The centre-back has enjoyed a rapid rise over the last two years, earning a move from French side Lens to Premier League giants Manchester City.
Under World Cup-winning coach Fabio Cannavaro, Khusanov has become a cornerstone of the Uzbek defence and is expected to play a key role as the nation continues its maiden World Cup campaign.
(with Reuters inputs)
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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