Kehl rages rages against referee Sascha Stegemann

After the disappointing 1-1 draw against VfL Bochum from Dortmund’s point of view, those responsible at BVB were dissatisfied with the performance of referee Sascha Stegemann. The referee had denied the Dortmunders two supposed penalties. Above all, head of sports Sebastian Kehl raged.

“The referee decided the game,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl: “Five days before the end, when it comes to the German championship, I think not to look at this situation is negligent, cowardly and completely wrong.”

Coach Edin Terzic went into the referee’s cabin after the final whistle to present his point of view. “I told them what I think of it and what’s at stake for us. It’s maybe a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us and for me to win the championship,” Terzic said DAZN. He went on to say in a matter-of-fact tone: “It’s just extremely bitter. It was a very close and intense game. From our point of view, there were at least three key scenes that went very unluckily”.

The BVB coach alluded to two allegedly missed penalties for his team. In the middle of the second half, Karim Adeyemi fell in Bochum’s penalty area, and in the final phase a VfL player got his hand on the ball after a shot by Niklas Süle.

Terzic complained that Stegemann did not use the possibility of a video check. “I just told him to look at it. Just use a different perspective. There are so many perspectives. It’s bitter that we don’t use VAR in situations like this.

BVB: Bochum coach Letsch also “understands Edin and Dortmund”

Dortmund’s keeper Gregor Kobel made a similar statement. “In my opinion it was a penalty. It has nothing to do with ‘playing the ball’. That’s brutally unfortunate for us. It’s a clear foul and a clear penalty,” complained the Swiss.

Bochum coach Thomas Letsch spoke of “a bit of luck” in both situations. “I understand Edin and Dortmund that they struggle with the situation. But in the end it’s no use discussing it. It’s not my job to comment on the referee. I was happy that there was no penalty.”

Although BVB remain at the top of the table thanks to the draw against Bochum, a win by FC Bayern against Hertha BSC on Sunday means that they can be pushed off the top again.