Frankfurt / Main (dpa) – The hotly debated change error in FC Bayern’s victory at SC Freiburg should also have been a big topic in a training course for the Bundesliga referees.
The time for the training session in Potsdam, which had been scheduled long beforehand, could hardly have been more appropriate, because DFB chief referee Lutz Michael Fröhlich sees a need to speak after the incident, which has been unique so far. The German Press Agency answers the most important questions.
Does referee Christian Dingert have to reckon with a suspension?
The incident will probably have no consequences for the 41-year-old referee. “I would find it fatal as a message,” said DFB referee chief Fröhlich on Monday about a possible break for Dingert. After all, Fröhlich admitted that the FIFA referee was partly to blame: “There were errors in the process that were on the part of the referee.”
Referee observer Knut Kircher was even clearer. “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 the former top referee at “SWR Sport”.
Did the referee make any other mistakes?
Yes. Dingert should have cautioned the twelfth Bayern player on the field – Kingsley Coman – and continued the interrupted game with an indirect free kick for Freiburg. Instead, there was a dropped ball and no yellow. Both were “not significant”, said Fröhlich. The 42-year-old Dingert has been a DFB referee since 2002. The graduate administrator from Lebecksmühle has been in charge of Bundesliga games since 2010, and games of the world association FIFA since 2013.
Have there been similar cases?
VfL Wolfsburg made a momentous substitution this season in the first round match of the DFB Cup at Preussen Münster. Curious: Dingert was also involved there. The Bundesliga club had made a total of six substitutions – only five were allowed. Dingert and his team had not noticed this. Munster successfully raised an objection to the scoring of the game they lost 3-1, Wolfsburg were knocked out of the competition at the green table.
Does the DFB draw consequences for referee training?
Actually, that’s not necessary. If Dingert, his assistants or the fourth official had counted again before the game resumed – as Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck did shortly afterwards – the mistake could have easily been avoided. “It’s simple math,” Kircher said. Therefore, the association wants to urge the referees once again to be more vigilant. “It has something to do with concentration and an overview. We have to talk to the referees about this again internally,” announced Fröhlich.
Will the rule that the team officials serve the substitution boards be reconsidered?
A return to the process that had been tried and tested for years before the pandemic, in which the fourth official served the substitution boards, is conceivable in the coming season. On the one hand, the procedure would be in one hand again, on the other hand, politicians have already lifted a number of corona rules. “Once the whole thing has settled with the pandemic, you should think about leaving it in one hand and going back to the way it used to be,” said Fröhlich.
Do Bayern have to fear the consequences?
An objection to a game rating must be submitted in writing to the DFB within two days of the end of the day on which the game took place. This is the sole responsibility of SC Freiburg. In addition, a fee of 500 euros must be paid to the DFB within the objection period. If this does not happen, the objection is ineffective.
What chance of success does an appeal have?
That is hard to say. It is true that the referee violated the rules. But this had no effect on the outcome of the game, as required by the DFB rules in such a case. Another reason for an appeal would be the culpable use of an ineligible player.
Are those responsible in Freiburg threatened with legal consequences if they do not raise an objection?
Probably not. According to lawyer Fabian Reinholz, “there is no legal relationship between the club and its fans on the basis of which the fan could assert claims for damages or other legal claims against those responsible on the grounds that the club did not do everything possible to score three points on the green table to collect”. The same applies to sponsors. “The people of Freiburg are not responsible,” said Reinholz.
Will the gray area in the rules be closed?
The association must deal with this question. In 59 years of Bundesliga history, this is obviously a precedent. This season, however, the status quo will definitely not change. Fröhlich announced: “There was a mistake. You have to work it out in peace.”