Injury, form or tactics are common reasons for players to be substituted but few will share the experience of Hoffenheim's Florian Grillitsch when he was replaced to attend the birth of his child.
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"If there ever was a reason to leave a match, it's this ... Florian #Grillitsch has left for the birth of his kid," Hoffenheim tweeted at halftime of the Europa League match against Red Star Belgrade.
The game was still goalless at the interval when Grillitsch was replaced by Diadie Samassekou.
Goals from Christoph Baumgartner and Munas Dabbur secured a 2-0 home victory for Hoffenheim.
Austrian midfielder Grillitsch, however, will be excused the result not being his top priority of the evening.
"I have never experienced that," the Bild paper quoted sport director Alexander Rosen telling broadcaster RTL.
"But perhaps we will get a Europa baby in the night."
"There was nothing to discuss about the substitution of Florian #Grillitsch. We hope he and his partner have a healthy @EuropaLeague baby," the team later tweeted citing coach Sebastian Hoeness.
Hoffenheim - and Grillitsch - are scheduled to be back in action away to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Australian Associated Press
