Most cards in a game
“I’ve never seen a game in which the referee makes more than 50 mistakes between the 1st and 95th minute,” said a red-faced Uli Hoeneß after his Bayern Munich game against Borussia Dortmund (1-1). exactly 22 years ago, April 7, 2001. It was the 28th matchday of the 2000/01 season. In the 95 minutes before, referee Hartmut Strampe had dealt out ten yellow cards, one yellow card and two straight red cards – there hasn’t been a Bundesliga game to date.
Hoeneß was not the only one dissatisfied that the majority of them went to the account of the professionals of the German record champions. “At Old Trafford (1-0 win in the first leg of the quarter-finals, editor’s note) we saw what international toughness means. As petty as the referees whistle in Germany, we shouldn’t be surprised if we lose international starting places,” complained Oliver Kahn, who was cautioned in the 82nd minute as the eighth Munich player. The “Mirror” spoke the next day of “gladiator fights in the Westphalia Stadium”.
Scholl, Elber & Co.
The Bayern squad for the 2000/01 seasonTo overview
The Munich team got away well given their 60-minute deficit. The 1-0 lead by Roque Santa Cruz (6th minute) faltered when Bixente Lizarazu was sent off for the first time after repeated foul play (35th). When Fredi Bobic equalized shortly after the break (52′) and three minutes later Stefan Effenberg even doubled BVB’s advantage, Dortmund seemed to have the game under control.
But Munich’s response was always on the limit of what was permitted – and Dortmund was unlucky. A free kick from Tomas Rosicky landed on the crossbar and then in the arms of Kahn, who later described this scene as a “sign that BVB didn’t deserve to win”. Instead of the opening goal, they even sent off the third place in the last few minutes – with Evanilson it also hit a black and yellow.
BVB coach Sammer complains after Hoeneß statements: “It’s the bottom drawer”
The missed victory, coupled with the referee’s criticism from Bayern manager Hoeneß, which was unjustified from BVB’s point of view, also caused those responsible in Dortmund to jump out of their skin. “It’s the bottom drawer. Although I actually admire Hoeneß for his services to German football, it has to be said. We showed more class after the game and concentrated on the essentials,” said coach Matthias Sammer. Sports director Michael Zorc followed up: “That’s a cheek. The win in Manchester must have clouded his mind.”
To the quiz
How important the point gained would be for Bayern in the 2001 season finale was not foreseeable at the time. Nevertheless, after the 28th matchday it was already clear how exciting the fight for the championship was going to be. Bayern defended their lead in the table – Dortmund missed the leap to the same and was level on points with Schalke 04 (2nd) and Bayer Leverkusen (3rd) in fourth place.
Note d. Red.: This article comes fresh from the TM archive and was first published on April 7th, 2020.
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