In a thrilling Europa League last-16 tie, Patrick Dorgu showcased an extraordinary display of sportsmanship that left fans and pundits alike in awe. With Manchester United leading Real Sociedad 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate, the Red Devils were awarded a penalty after referee Benoit Bastien believed Dorgu had been fouled by Hamari Traore. However, as the decision was being reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Dorgu took it upon himself to overturn the call.

Dorgu, just 20 years old, gestured to the referee that no foul had occurred. VAR concurred, and the penalty was revoked. Despite this, Manchester United went on to secure their place in the quarter-finals with a 5-2 aggregate victory. Dorgu's act of honesty, however, was the highlight of the match.

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's manager, praised Dorgu, stating, "It's a good thing. I'm proud of him. I cannot say if it's 0-0 or [we are] losing if I have the same response." This incident serves as a reminder that sportsmanship can sometimes outweigh the desire to win at all costs.

Historical Acts of Sportsmanship in Football

Football has a rich history of players and teams demonstrating integrity on the pitch. Here are a few notable examples:

• Robbie Fowler vs Arsenal (1997): Fowler famously told the referee not to award a penalty after he went down in the box. Despite his protests, the penalty was given, and Fowler missed the spot-kick, though Jason McAteer scored from the rebound.

• Arsenal's Rematch Offer to Sheffield United (1999): After a controversial goal, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger offered a rematch to Sheffield United, which Arsenal won 2-1.

• Paolo Di Canio's Fair Play (2000): Di Canio caught the ball instead of scoring into an open net when Everton's goalkeeper was injured, earning him a FIFA Fair Play Award.

• Leicester's Gesture to Nottingham Forest (2007): Leicester allowed Forest to score a 'free goal' in a League Cup rematch after the original game was abandoned due to a player's collapse.

• Miroslav Klose's Honesty (2012): Klose admitted to handling the ball to score a goal for Lazio against Napoli, leading to the goal being disallowed.

These moments remind us that while football is a highly competitive sport, the spirit of fair play and integrity remains at its core.