Munich, March 15 – FC Bayern Munich has lodged an appeal with the DFB (German Football Association) sports court against the suspension of forward Luis Diaz. The appeal follows a controversial red card incident during the club’s 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Bayern Criticizes Refereeing Decisions
The club confirmed the appeal, stating that they are concerned about recent refereeing performances. Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO of FC Bayern, exclusively told Sky Sport: “We view the developments of the past weeks with concern. The performance in Leverkusen was the culmination of a period in which we have repeatedly been confronted with questionable decisions. Whether against HSV, in Dortmund, or in Leverkusen – there have always been disputed scenes that often went against us. The DFB is challenged to improve the level of performance of its referees. Christian Dingert admitting his mistake is honorable, but that alone doesn’t help us.”
The Controversial Incident
The incident in question occurred in the final minutes of the match when Luis Diaz went down in the opposing penalty area. Although there was contact between the FCB winger and Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, Diaz immediately got back up. Despite this, referee Christian Dingert issued a second yellow card, deeming the action a dive.
Referee Christian Dingert himself commented on the situation after the game: “From the game, I perceived that Diaz lifted off. I didn’t notice the subsequent contact on the foot.” He added, “When I see the pictures now, I say: no penalty, that’s clear, and a yellow-red is very harsh. If I see the pictures now, I would no longer give that.”
Low Chances of Successful Appeal
Despite the club’s strong stance and the referee’s admission, the chances of a successful appeal are considered very low. DFB referee spokesman Alex Feuerherdt emphasized to Sky Sport on Sunday: “This is a factual decision that one may disagree with, but it is not an obvious error like a player mix-up.”
Coach Kompany’s Disappointment
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany expressed his dissatisfaction after the match. “I am not happy that Lucho is now suspended. You have to look at the scene as a whole. He gets up so quickly, and there is also contact. Then you can have the discussion: penalty or not. But it is never a yellow card. Diaz will now miss the next game (against Union Berlin, March 21, 3:30 PM, live on Sky Sport; Editor’s note) without me understanding why.”
Diaz’s absence will be felt in the upcoming match against Union Berlin, scheduled for March 21. The club hopes for a positive outcome from the appeal but acknowledges the difficulty of overturning such decisions.
Broader Implications for DFB Refereeing
The incident has reignited discussions about the standard of refereeing in the Bundesliga. FC Bayern’s public criticism puts pressure on the DFB to address these concerns and potentially review their referee training and evaluation processes. The club’s appeal, while likely unsuccessful, serves as a clear statement regarding their dissatisfaction with the current state of officiating.
Source: https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/fc-bayern-muenchen-legt-einspruch-gegen-diaz-sperre-ein/13520066/34369
