Kevin Grosskreutz Apologises for Throwing Doner Kebab in Cologne Fan's Face

Kevin Grosskreutz has apologised for throwing a doner kebab in the face of a Cologne supporter who allegedly mocked the Borussia Dortmund star on a night out with teammate Julian Schieber.

Grosskreutz, who continues to fulfil a versatile role at the Westfalenstadion, admitted regretting the incident that left a 34-year-old man claiming "his eyes were burning," per Enis Koylu of Goal.com:

"I perceived the situation as insulting and it offended my privacy," said Grosskreutz. "Of course, it would have been better if I hadn't thrown the doner in public. There is no doubt that this situation isn't ideal. I'm sorry."

Police confirmed the man reported Grosskreutz's actions and suggested the 25-year-old could find himself in trouble, noted in Koylu's article:

"It is true that a complaint was filed against Mr Grosskreutz. We have started a criminal case for willful injury," revealed the authorities.

Schieber confirmed his teammate felt "mocked" by "a group of young fans" who sang songs about him before the doner was thrown. The Bild headline was posted on Twitter by 101 Great Goals, confirming a mixed week for the Dortmund star:

Grosskreutz remains one of the club's most important, if not under-the-radar, players. While stars such as Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are likely to grab future headlines with match-winning strikes, Grosskreutz's dedication to the team is undeniable.

As noted by the Bundesliga's official website, after announcing Grosskreutz player of the week from the last matchday, the energetic individual "has filled practically every position on the field for club and country this season." He is also outlined as "Mr. Versatility," a perfect moniker for someone who continues to crop up across the defence and midfield.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Grosskreutz's recent goal against Hoffenheim was ample reward for a player who has posted 42 appearances across the domestic division and Champions League this season, per WhoScored.com. No Dortmund player has more starts in either competition than Grosskreutz, who has scored two and assisted four across his differing roles.

Dortmund have one Bundesliga fixture left before the DFB Pokal final against Bayern Munich. Grosskreutz may find himself on the end of jeers during both matches after admitting his mistake, but he is the type of player to overcome the embarrassment with strong, battling performances.

Having made just four appearances for the German international team since 2010, he remains an outside shout for Joachim Low's World Cup squad. Grosskreutz has proven himself to be a man of many duties once again this season, a trait that could see him sneak into the setup, but he'll need to ensure off-the-field mishaps are kept to a minimum if he is to stand a chance of appearing in Brazil.

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