No 'scandalous mistakes': DFB dismisses Hoeness criticism

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Referee Christian Dingert (2nd R) walks after showing Munich's Luis Diaz (R) a yellow-red card during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich at the BayArena. Federico Gambarini/dpa

The German Football Federation (DFB) has dismissed sharp criticism from Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness on the refereeing in the 1-1 at Bayer Leverkusen where Bayern had two players sent off and two goals disallowed.

Bayern players Nicolas Jackson got a straight red and Luis Diaz had to go after a second booking on Saturday when goals from Jonathan Tah and Harry Kane were disallowed for handball. Leverkusen also had a late goal from Jonas Hofmann disallowed for a narrow offside.

Referee Christian Dingert said post-match he made a mistake by sending Diaz off for diving while Hoeness had told the Bild paper that it was "the worst refereeing performance I have ever seen at a Bundesliga match."

Nothing scandalous

But DFB refereeing body spokesman Alexander Feuerherdt told the AZ paper that "we can not confirm" such a view.

"Especially the match relevant decisions were correct or at least justifiable - with the exception of the yellow-red card, which referee Christian Dingert has admitted to himself," Feuerherdt said.

"Perhaps Uli Hoeness' opinion was influenced by the fact that the majority of these match-related decisions went against FC Bayern. But we are certainly not talking about scandalous mistakes here.”

Bayern fury

Bayern were especially incensed by the sending off of Diaz but also about Kane's alleged handball when he was hit from close range by Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich seconds after coming on.

Diaz got his marching orders for the alleged dive and Dingert admitted to his mistake after seeing replays showing that there had been contact between Blaswich and the winger.

Dingert pointed out that the video assistant could not intervene over the second booking under current rules because they limit reviews to goals and direct sendings off.

Diaz will still miss Bayern's game next week against Union Berlin because even a wrong on the spot decision can't be overturned.

"I am not happy that Lucho is banned." Bayern coach Vincent Kompany told Sky TV.

"See how quickly he gets up and there was contact. You can have the conversation if it is a penalty. But it is not a yellow card."

Looking at the disallowed Kane goal, defender Jonathan Tah said: "That's not a handball for me. He turns away." Goalkeeper Sven Ulreich added: "He is hit from one metre away."

Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said: "It felt that every 50-50 decision went against us."

Bayern show morale

Kompany meanwhile also praised the team for getting a point despite going one man down before half-time, still getting the equalizer, and then holding on with two players less in the closing stages.

“I’m so incredibly proud of the guys’ mental effort," Kompany said.

Tah added: "I think we did an amazing job today, so it feels good heading off the pitch and knowing we gave our all. We didn’t want to accept difficult situations bringing us down. That shows the strength of this team."

Ulreich return

Also at the centre was Ulreich who was playing his first match since September 2024 and the death of his young son last year as Manuel Neuer and Jonas Urbig are injured.

"He did a very good job," Berl said, with defender Josip Stanisic adding: "I wish him nothing more than happiness in his life. Anyone who has children knows how difficult it must be, what he and his family are going through."

Ulreich, who preserved the draw with a big stoppage time save, said: "It was nice to be on the pitch again. Of course it was a special game for me. It is nice to earn a point."

However, there was bad news Sunday when Bayern said that Ulreich suffered a muscle strain in the game that would sideline him "for the time being."

Bayern reportedly hope that Urbig will be fit again by Wednesday when Bayern play Atalanta in a Champions League last 16 return leg. He got concussed in the first match in Italy which Bayern won 6-1 on Tuesday.

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Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany watches as Nicolas Jackson leaves the pitch after his red card during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich at the BayArena. Federico Gambarini/dpa

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