Munich – FC Bayern Munich’s appeal against the one-match suspension handed to winger Luis Díaz following a controversial incident during their 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen has been rejected by the German Football Association (DFB), the organization confirmed on Monday. The decision means Díaz will miss Bayern’s next Bundesliga fixture.
The appeal centered around the second yellow card issued to Díaz in the 84th minute of the match at the BayArena. Referee Christian Dingert deemed Díaz’s fall in the penalty area a simulation, resulting in a sending-off. Bayern officials strongly protested the decision, arguing that contact had been made with Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich. But, the DFB sport court, chaired by Stephan Oberholz, upheld the original ruling.
According to the DFB’s statement, Dingert indicated he observed Díaz lifting off the ground while sprinting into the box without contact from Blaswich, interpreting it as unsporting behavior. While Dingert reviewed footage of the subsequent goal, the court determined that even with the review, Díaz had initiated contact, and the decision wasn’t fundamentally flawed. The DFB emphasized that the decision is considered a factual one, requiring a “gravely, obviously, and without any doubt objectively incorrect” assessment to be overturned – a threshold not met in this case.
Bayern Board Criticizes Refereeing Standards
The decision comes amid growing frustration within Bayern Munich regarding recent refereeing performances. Bayern board member Jan-Christian Dreesen voiced concerns over a perceived pattern of questionable calls. “We view the developments of the past few weeks with concern,” Dreesen told Sky. “The performance in Leverkusen was the culmination of a phase in which we have repeatedly faced questionable decisions. Whether against Hamburg, in Dortmund, or in Leverkusen – there have always been contentious scenes that often went against us. The DFB is required to improve the level of performance of its referees. The fact that Christian Dingert admits his mistake is commendable, but that alone does not help us.”
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany also expressed his bewilderment over the incident, stating after the match, “understand it. I always have respect for the officials, but that was a wrong decision that caused a lot of frustration. No one in the stadium knows why he gets the red card.”
The DFB responded to criticism from Bayern Honorary President Uli Hoeneß, who had labeled the refereeing performance as the worst he had ever witnessed in a Bundesliga match. DFB referees’ spokesperson Alexander Feuerherdt countered Hoeneß’s claims, stating, “We cannot confirm that. Above all, the game-relevant decisions were correct or at least justifiable – with the exception of the yellow-red card, as referee Christian Dingert himself has admitted.” Feuerherdt added that Hoeneß’s opinion may have been influenced by the fact that many of the key decisions went against Bayern. “But we are not talking about scandalous errors here,” he said.
Dingert himself acknowledged after the game that the sending-off was “incredibly harsh,” stating, “If I see the pictures now, I wouldn’t give it like that.” He also admitted to overturning two Bayern goals – from Jonathan Tah and Harry Kane – due to prior handball infractions.
Bayern Sporting Director Max Eberl echoed the sentiment that decisions seemed to consistently fall against his team, saying, “It felt like everything that was fifty-fifty went against us.” He specifically questioned the decision to disallow Kane’s goal, stating, “For me, it’s not a handball. He’s turning away. I don’t think the arm is extremely far from the body.”
Kompany Praises Bayern’s Character Despite Difficult Circumstances
Despite playing with nine men for a significant portion of the match – Nicolás Jackson having been sent off with a straight red card in the 42nd minute for a reckless foul – Bayern managed to secure a point. “We won 1-1,” Eberl stated. Kompany praised his team’s resilience, saying, “I am incredibly proud of the character and mental strength of the team.” The draw maintains Bayern’s nine-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table over Borussia Dortmund.
A strong performance from Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, making his return after a year and a half absence due to injuries to Manuel Neuer and Jonas Urbig, was also crucial. Ulreich made several key saves to deny Leverkusen, including one from Aleix García early in the match. “It was a special game for me. The fact that we were able to take a point home is a nice story,” Ulreich said. Eberl lauded Ulreich’s performance, stating, “He did a very good job.”
Jackson’s red card, however, proved costly for Bayern. Eberl acknowledged the foul on Martin Terrier was clear, stating, “There’s no discussion about that. He comes in late and hits the ankle.” Leverkusen failed to capitalize fully on their numerical advantage, with Malik Tillman and Patrik Schick both missing opportunities to score.
Bayern’s next challenge comes against [next opponent to be confirmed], as they continue their pursuit of a 35th Bundesliga title. The club will undoubtedly be hoping for more favorable refereeing decisions as the season progresses.
Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.
