Deniz Aytekin caused discussions in the top game between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern. After a foul by the already charged Jude Bellingham on Alphonso Davies, the referee decided not to send the Dortmund player off with another yellow card. A decision that can also be completely different, as the referee himself admitted after the game. Sports show expert Lutz Wagner takes a stand.
“If we look at this scene without any emotions, in isolation – then it’s a yellow card”Aytekin admitted to “Sport1”.
But what happened? The already convicted Bellingham had kicked Davies in the head while attempting to claim the ball. The Bayern full-back was then substituted and had to be taken to the hospital with suspected concussion.
Jude Bellingham apologizes to Alphonso Davies
According to the rule book, the action of the 19-year-old Englishman is a “forbidden game”. A clear foul, which is to be punished with a yellow card – for Bellingham that would have been tantamount to being sent off. But Aytekin let mercy prevail and stuck to an admonition.
Aytekin used discretion
When explaining after the game, the 44-year-old cited the first warning: “He (Bellingham; ed.) saw a ‘can yellow card’ on his first action. […] Not classically compelling.”
All in all, it wasn’t enough for Aytekin to be sent off after the second foul: “There was contact, of course – but I lacked the ultimate conviction to go yellow-red there.”the referee justified the contested decision.
“Individually, this is a card in theory, but in the game with the overall situation” there are leeway that “you can also use it from time to time” must, said the 44-year-old. “I absolutely understand every Bayern fan who looks at the situation in isolation and says: That’s a yellow card.”
Lutz Wagner: “In technical terms, it’s yellow”
But that’s exactly what Aytekin didn’t pull out. The game master did not evaluate the scene in isolation, but against the background of the entire game. According to the sports show expert Lutz Wagner, this is basically a good style: “Thanks to his great experience and his pronounced ability to empathize, he sees the big picture. He decided to take charge of the overall game.”said the 59-year-old DFB referee instructor.
Wagner makes it clear: “In terms of rules, it’s yellow and therefore a sending off.” The former referee can understand the doubts after the first warning: “One is inclined not to make such a decision.” For Wagner in the episode one “Humanly absolutely understandable decision”.
Lutz Wagner during his active time as a referee in 2010
Aytekin as an empathic communicator
“We are not robots”explained Aytekin at “Sport1”. “That’s exactly what’s being asked of us – to have that feeling for the game and for the players.” The 44-year-old was self-critical: “Maybe it’s a tad too much empathy.”
But does that make the referee of the year 2022’s leadership style wrong? ARD expert Wagner supports Aytekin: “I find his style extremely beneficial and inspires confidence.” According to Wagner, mistakes are part of the business. “But because of his style, he is very well accepted and rightly so.”