There were no two opinions for Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann when Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham kicked Alphonso Davies in the head.
“We had a training four months ago. If you hit a player in the face with a raw foot, it’s straight red. That’s what they told us. There’s not much to discuss. He kicks him in the face full pot. It’s not Yellow, that’s a red card,” said the coach after the 2: 2 (1: 0) in the top game of the Bundesliga at Borussia Dortmund on the TV channel “Sky”.
Davies was taken to hospital with a suspected concussion. Referee Deniz Aytekin had rated the action as unintentional and let it continue. “In the scene I lacked the last conviction to go yellow-red and decide a game like that,” said the referee, noting that the first warning against Bellingham was a “can yellow card”.
“I can understand anyone who interprets the scene differently. There are situations that are not black and white,” added Aytekin.
National goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spoke of a game-changing scene. “In my opinion, the head isn’t too low. At the beginning of the season, the referees explained to us that hits in the head are more likely to be punished with a red card. The referee has to weigh that up. (…) We’re not asking for a red card now.” said the keeper.