Khusanov gifts signed shirt to cameraman he floored during Uzbekistan's World Cup debut

Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov has apologised and gifted a signed shirt to the camera operator he inadvertently knocked over during Uzbekistan’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match, a 3-1 defeat to Colombia.

The 22-year-old flew into a challenge with Piero Hincapie near the touchline and was unable to halt his momentum, colliding with a broadcast camera operator in the process. Khusanov was booked for the original foul, while medics and assistants rushed to check on the fallen individual.

The Uzbekistan Football Association subsequently confirmed the gesture in an Instagram post. “During the game, defender Abdukodir Khusanov was involved in an accidental collision with a broadcast camera operator while challenging for the ball near the touchline,” the caption read. “Representatives of the Uzbekistan Football Association visited the operator to check on his condition and presented him with a special jersey signed by Abdukodir Khusanov. The defender also conveyed his sincere wishes for a speedy recovery and sent his regards to the operator.”

The incident was a rare moment of goodwill in an otherwise difficult evening for Uzbekistan, who now face a steep challenge to reach the knockout stages. Portugal and DR Congo have already shared a point in their group opener, leaving Uzbekistan needing a strong response in their remaining fixtures.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Argentina captain Lionel Messi was visibly emotional after scoring the first of three goals against Algeria, later revealing he had been in tears immediately after his opener, with his father Jorge having recently recovered from a health problem. France, Germany and the United States also recorded dominant victories, while England beat Croatia 4-2.