Shortly after the break in the game between Hoffenheim and BVB, VAR got in touch. After a check, however, there was no penalty for TSG, but a referee ball. The perspective of everyone involved.
Referee Martin Petersen corrected a free-kick decision – but in the end there was no penalty.
IMAGO/foto2press
It was the 50th minute of the game between TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund. BVB led 1-0 after Julian Brandt’s goal with their backs, but Kraichgau came out of the break courageously and, after a foul whistle as a result of a duel between Emre Can and Kevin Akpoguma, could look forward to a free kick in a promising position. This was not carried out, instead referee Martin Petersen grabbed his ear, there was contact with Cologne – and in the end there was no free kick – and no penalty either – but a dropped ball.
What happened?
In a duel on the left of the penalty area, Can hits opponent Akpoguma, who turns outwards, below on the sole and then has his hands on the upper body of Hoffenheim, who goes down. Referee Petersen gives TSG a free kick.
Petersen explains his decision
Petersen “considered this pushing as punishable and gave a free kick” on the field,” the referee at “Sky” explained the scene. “Then the VAR checked and found that the contact was internal and there was also light foot contact.” Because of this objection from video assistant Daniel Schlager, Petersen decided to watch the scene in the review area. There he “saw that pushing is not enough for a penalty kick” and also not the foot contact, which was “more of a contact below the sole”. All in all, that was not enough for the 37-year-old, so in the end I came to the conclusion: Pushing is not enough, but neither is foot contact”.
So Petersen reversed his original foul play decision and continued the game with a dropped ball.
Dortmund understanding
The parties involved rated the scene differently. “It’s not up to speed. I stand, he stands and he accepts contact much later,” said Can, praising Petersen’s decision in the review area because “in my opinion, a scene like that should never be a penalty.”
His coach Edin Terzic also thought it was “absolutely the right decision” and justified it as follows: “When you see how Akpoguma keeps fighting for the ball. Even he immediately felt that it wasn’t a foul that was enough to result in a penalty.” Petersen was therefore praised: “There are not many referees who have the courage not to award the penalty.”
Hoffenheim lack of understanding
Of course, Hoffenheim assessed the scene differently, as it would have been a great opportunity to score an important equalizer. “I’ll be honest, it’s a foul for me. I just wasn’t aware that I was in the box,” said Akpoguma, describing the duel from his point of view: “He touches my foot and gives me a nudge from above , for me it is a very clear foul.”
When Petersen then stepped into the review area, the defender “wondered what he’s checking now? And if I was actually in the penalty area, then it’s a penalty”. It turned out differently.
His coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, who suffered his third defeat in three games as TSG coach, “didn’t understand” the decision. It was clear to the coach: “He hit him.” That’s why the 45-year-old didn’t understand: “I still need some clarification.”
However, Akpoguma did not want to accept the scene in the 50th minute as the reason for the defeat: “We had enough chances to score a goal without a penalty.” In the end it didn’t work out and the negative series continues. The Kraichgauer have been waiting for a win in all competitions for 13 games.
