Controversial scene in added time
“Bottomless”: Second division coach sharply criticizes referees
01/19/2025 – 5:52 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The refereeing performance in the game against Hertha made Paderborn’s coach Lukas Kwasniok’s emotions run high. After the final whistle he made serious accusations.
One scene in injury time in particular caused discussion: In an aerial duel with Paderborn’s Sven Michel, Hertha’s Deyovaisio Zeefuik supported himself in his own penalty area. Although the SCP bench loudly demanded a penalty, referee Florian Heft allowed the game to continue.
Paderborn’s coach Lukas Kwasniok was really upset. He protested intensely and hadn’t really calmed down at the press conference after the final whistle. “Brutally flawed. Bottomless,” rumbled the 43-year-old and added, expecting a penalty from the German Football League: “It may be that I have to pay a little money for it now – for the first time in my career.”
But that’s not enough. Kwasniok accused the referee of having whistled against the SCP because of his place of residence in Lower Saxony. His team is one with the fewest yellow cards in the league, whereas the Berliners committed the most fouls.
“And today we have 14 fouls, the opponent has six. I don’t think we suddenly started kicking in the training camp,” said Kwasniok. His explanation later in a radio interview with ARD: “It’s not surprising if you have a referee from Osnabrück. There is a story with Osnabrück and Paderborn. I don’t want to assume anything about it.” Referee Heft comes from Neuenkirchen in Lower Saxony – about 20 kilometers north of Osnabrück.
But that’s not enough. Kwasniok continued his insinuations against the referee in the PK: “It is true that we have lost every game under our colleagues – apart from one completely insignificant game. That is not intentional, but the bottom line is that he can’t completely get it out of his head. I don’t think that – if you have a history like that – someone from Osnabrück can be completely impartial.” It is doubtful whether the league will let these statements stand without comment.