Little protest, much astonishment: After goalkeeper Koen Casteels had clearly brought down SC professional Lukas Kübler in the penalty area during SC Freiburg’s 2-0 win in Wolfsburg, there was no penalty kick even after VAR intervention. At first glance incomprehensible, but referee Tobias Welz decided justifiably and in accordance with the rules.
One reacted with more understanding, the other with less. “The ball was already gone, you can also give the penalty,” admitted Wolfsburg coach Mark van Bommel, echoing the view of most Freiburg players. “If something like that is never whistled, I say: okay. But I think many a referee would have whistled it too,” said visitors’ captain Christian Günter and SC sporting director Jochen Saier also thought: “I don’t see what’s wrong with penalties.”
What it was about: At 0:1, VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels had brought down Freiburg’s Lukas Kübler in the penalty area. Both had moved towards the ball between them, which was then tipped away by Renato Steffen – whereupon Casteels crashed into Kübler. Referee Tobias Welz did not react at first, was then asked by the VAR to view the TV pictures and stuck to his judgement afterwards.
One disputed scene, two possible interpretations
A controversial scene in which Welz, contrary to the first impression, acted justifiably. In general, actions away from duels are only punishable if there is an intention. But Casteels, like Kübler, only wanted to play the ball. The question for the referees was therefore: Did Casteels recklessly accept an injury to Kübler, or did he clear Kübler unintentionally? Welz decided on the latter option, because the goalkeeper made himself small before the collision with Kübler and pulled his legs up.
The opposite interpretation of the situation, however, would have been just as correct. A tricky situation because both interpretations are justifiable and in accordance with the rules and there was neither a clearly correct or incorrect decision.
