Three controversial scenes in the game are likely to be talked about for some time. The result of the game meant that FC Bayern Munich had an opportunity to reclaim the top spot in the table with a win over Hertha on Sunday.
Terzic and Kehl register specific refereeing complaints after the draw
Borussia Dortmund trainer Edin Terzic and club sporting director Sebastian Kehl expressed their dissatisfaction with referee Sascha Stegemann following the 1-1 draw with regional rivals VfL Bochum in the 2022/23 German Bundesliga opener. Three controversial scenes in the game are likely to be talked about for some time. The result of the game meant that FC Bayern Munich had an opportunity to reclaim top spot in the table with a win over Hertha on Sunday.
The first controversial scene happened in the fifth minute of the game. Replays showed that VfL striker Philipp Hofmann pushed down Emré Can in a one-on-one duel in the Dortmund penalty area just before Bochum’s opening goal. In the 65th minute, there was a clear call for a penalty when Danilo Soares took out Karim Adeyemi in the box. Later in the game, there were appeals for a handball penalty in the 90th minute when VfL defender Erhan Masovic blocked a shot with his arm in an unnatural position just prior to Mats Hummels’ disallowed offside goal.
Edin remained relatively calm compared to the club’s sporting director
Terzic was booked for dissent by Stegemann after the third controversial incident. The Dortmund trainer expressed his frustration with the refereeing decisions in his post-match interviews with German broadcaster DAZN, American broadcast outlet ESPN, and in the mixed zone. However, Terzic remained relatively calm compared to the club’s sporting director, Kehl. Terzic acknowledged the difficulty of the referee’s job in fast-paced games but urged for VAR to be utilized to reverse bad calls. “I simply ask that you do all you can to reverse bad calls and that didn’t happen today. They have the tools to look from another perspective,” he said.
Kehl criticized the referee’s decisions
VfL captain Anthony Losilla admitted in his own post-match interview that the incident involving Adeyemi and Soares could have been a penalty. Kehl also criticized the referee’s decisions, stating that VAR should have been utilized in at least one of the cases. “With the resources we have at our disposal these days, not to look at this situation when the German championship is on the line, I think is absolutely negligent, I think is cowardly and completely wrong. We are incredibly incensed by this. The referee cost us two points,” Kehl said.
Kehl continued to criticize the referee’s performance, claiming that he had decided the game and that matters were not handled by the book. “Today, they were wrong,” he said. Terzic concluded by stating that the title race is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him, and he asked the referee to use the tools at his disposal to look at things from another perspective.
The controversial scenes in the Dortmund-Bochum game are likely to be the topic of discussion among football fans and pundits for some time. Refereeing decisions have a significant impact on the outcome of games, and the use of VAR has been introduced to reduce errors. However, the controversy in the Dortmund-Bochum game shows that there is still room for improvement in the use of technology in football.
In conclusion, the Dortmund trainer and sporting director expressed their dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions in the Dortmund-Bochum game. They called for VAR to be utilized to reverse bad calls and ensure that the game is decided by the players on the field. The controversy in the game highlights the need for improvements in the use of technology in football.