Mohammed Kudus was not booked for removing his shirt while paying tribute to Atsu

Last Saturday morning, football fans awoke to the tragic news that Christian Atsu had sadly passed away.

The former Newcastle United forward had been missing for 12 days after getting caught up in the horrendous earthquakes which have devastated Turkey and Syria.

Atsu's apartment building collapsed and the 31-year-old was eventually found dead under the rubble by rescue workers.

Tributes for the Ghanaian were seen all around the footballing world over the weekend, with Premier League players wearing black armbands during matches and minute applause or silences held before kick-offs.

Atsu's countryman, Mohammed Kudus, paid a touching tribute of his own after scoring a wonderful free-kick for Ajax in a 4-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam.

Rather poignantly, Atsu's final career goal was a free-kick for Turkish club Hatayspor, which came on the eve of the earthquakes.

Christian Atsu’s final moment as a footballer, a last-minute winner for Hatayspor, just hours before the earthquake struck.

RIP Christian Atsu 🙏🖤

🎥 @beINSPORTS_TR

pic.twitter.com/YcKSru2Xqh

— GiveMeSport (@GiveMeSport) February 18, 2023

After producing his set-piece magic at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Kudus removed his shirt to reveal a message which simply read: "RIP Atsu".

Now, usually a player receives a yellow card from the referee over the removal of the team's shirt.

But not on this occasion.

In an incredibly rare modern footballing moment, referee Pol van Boekel didn't brandish a yellow card in Kudus' direction, recognising that the sport's laws are insignificant in comparison.

Video: Kudus' tribute to Atsu after free-kick goal for Ajax

Christian Atsu’s last ever goal was a free kick. Mohammed Kudus dedicated his goal today to Atsu after scoring a free kick.

A befitting tribute 🙏🏽🇬🇭pic.twitter.com/7NqsxEIPRv

— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) February 19, 2023

What did Kudus say about the referee after the match?

After the game, Kudus revealed what Van Boekel said to him, with the two seen in discussion on the pitch.

"We have football rules but this is beyond football, this is about life and death," the Ajax star said.

"The referee told me it's not allowed (shirt removal) but he understands because this is a bigger situation than football. A big respect from me to the referee."

Van Boekel, we salute you. 

Kudus: "We have football rules but this is beyond football, this is about life and death. The referee told me it's not allowed (shirt removal) but he understands because this is a bigger situation than football. A big respect from me to the referee." pic.twitter.com/kpr623CrPX

— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) February 19, 2023