Ex-colleagues blame the referee, not Bayern
FC Bayern’s change mistake in Freiburg is hotly debated. SC Freiburg seems to have exhausted the deadline for an objection to the game rating. The question of guilt seems to have been clearly clarified within the referee guild.
Nfter FC Bayern Munich made a mistake in the 4-1 win in Freiburg, Knut Kircher took responsibility for Christian Dingert’s team as referee observer for the German Football Association. “It’s a faux pas on the part of the referee team, which shouldn’t happen if you want to get the refereeing through to the end in a concentrated manner,” said Kircher.
In a double change, Bayern player Kingsley Coman probably did not leave the field because the wrong jersey number was displayed. At the same time, however, two professionals from the Bundesliga leaders ran onto the field. It was only almost 20 seconds later that the confusion was interrupted and clarified.
Debates in Freiburg: Bayern’s team manager Kathleen Krüger, fourth official Arno Blos and referee Christian Dingert
Quelle: Getty Images/Matthias Hangst
“The replacement processes were not the responsibility of FC Bayern, but this is a replacement process that the referee team has to monitor,” said Kircher. “It’s simple math, and it’s important to concentrate on your work accordingly. But that doesn’t just have to be written into the fourth official’s homework booklet, but an assistant has to watch too.” Ultimately, it was a team effort or a mistake that led to chaos, said Kircher.
Those responsible at SC Freiburg are examining an objection that should be filed by midnight this Monday. If Freiburg refrain from doing so, the DFB will not take action either.
However, Kircher believes that even a protest would have little prospect of success, “because in the almost 20 seconds that the player Coman was on the field, he touched the ball. But he didn’t prevent a goal and didn’t score a goal either,” said the former Fifa referee.
“So it’s a referee’s fault”
So the French didn’t really intervene in the game when the score was 3-1. “Therefore, I believe that an appeal will not be crowned with success. However, I could understand that SC Freiburg is considering filing a protest,” said Kircher.
Like Kirche, Lutz Wagner, DFB referee instructor, also sees the blame on Dingert. “Normally he or someone on his team would have had to make sure the number of players was correct before the game resumed. He didn’t do that and so it’s a mistake by the referee,” said Wagner on Spox.
Dingert can delegate this task, “but it is his responsibility that the game continues with the right number of players on both sides,” explained Wagner.
