Stiller's nose, a result of a congenital cleft lip, was mocked by Victor Edvardsen of Go Ahead Eagles. This led to a heated argument and a minor scuffle between the two sides. Several Stuttgart players were indignant, confronting Edvardsen while Stiller was visibly angry. Both players ultimately received yellow cards.

Stiller (black) was mocked by Edvardsen (number 16) about his nose during Go Ahead Eagles' 0-4 loss to Stuttgart, at De Adelaarshorst, Deventer, Netherlands on 28/11. Photo: Reuters

Edvardsen's actions drew strong condemnation from fans and experts alike. Speaking on Ziggo Sport, former football star Wesley Sneijder expressed his outrage: "He needs to go to the Stuttgart dressing room and apologize immediately. This is an act of bullying. We all know the consequences bullying can lead to in life. This incident cannot be taken lightly. Go Ahead Eagles must make him apologize immediately. There's something wrong with his head. I don't want to discuss it further because the more I talk, the angrier I get".

Go Ahead Eagles, the Dutch club, fined Edvardsen 580 USD, announcing that the money would be donated to charity. Edvardsen, the Swedish forward, eventually issued an apology, despite initially stating after the match that he was unsure if he would.

"I apologize for my recent actions. What was said is unacceptable on a football pitch," Edvardsen announced. "After the match, I went to the Stuttgart dressing room and apologized. I understand I need to set an example and behave more appropriately."

English media believes Stiller is on Man Utd's transfer target list. The German international has played 19 matches for Stuttgart this season. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder received his first call-up to the German national team in 2024 and has earned five caps for "Die Mannschaft".

His ability to win back possession, make creative passes, and strong tactical awareness positions Stiller as a top defensive midfielder in the Bundesliga. His current contract with Stuttgart runs until 2028. The player, who came through Bayern's youth academy, is valued at approximately 58 million USD. Besides Man Utd, Real Madrid and Liverpool are reportedly interested in Stiller.

Vy Anh