No criticism of the referee
“Poorest sow”: Cologne boss about controversial penalty
29.09.2025 – 10:21 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
VfB Stuttgart turned the away game in Cologne and briefly won. Also thanks to a penalty that was number one topic after the game.
After the game of VfB Stuttgart at 1st FC Köln, Ermedin Demirović focused on. “It is a clear penalty, if I fall, nobody discusses there,” said the Stuttgart striker at DAZN after the 2-1 victory in Cologne. “But I can’t, it probably has to learn it. This is what it looks bitter because I go on.”
The trigger was a scene in the middle of the first half: Cologne’s goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe clarified the ball too late and met the approaching Demirović. However, he continued to play and only came to the ground after a tackle. Only then did referee Matthias Jöllenbeck get the hint of video assistant Günter Perl. After minutes of review, he decided on a penalty – much to the displeasure of the Cologne.
Swabia himself was more insightful. At first he did not know “whether I meet him or he meets me”. In slow motion, however, it can be seen “that you can already give it”. The keeper admitted: “I should have hit the ball directly.” In conversation, Demirović assured him that he was a fair sportsman and wanted to continue. “That honors him,” said Schwäbe.
The responsible persons reacted less understanding. Cologne coach Lukas Kwasniok emphasized that none of the Stuttgart team had complained. “There is contact, (…) but not every contact is a foul.” He also renewed his criticism of the Var: “He is getting more and more questionable. I was not a friend, I am not a friend – and I will never be a friend of it.”
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß also spoke of a “controversial discussion”. Cologne’s sports director Thomas Kessler, on the other hand, protected referees Jöllenbeck. This was “the poorest sow” of the whole scene and “more or less forced” to decide on a penalty. Demirovic converted to compensate (28th) – and thus initiated the turn.
For Kessler, the cause was like for Kwasniok in the Cologne basement. He said about Var Perl: “He acted over 500 times at a high level as a referee on the pitch. How he can then plunge on this scene is an absolute puzzle.”