Referee Welz defends controversial red card against Upamecano and reacts to Nagelsmann’s outburst of anger

Referee Tobias Welz defended the controversial dismissal against Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano in the game at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The referee also reacted to Nagelsmann’s outburst of anger.

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“In the dressing room we had a discussion at eye level. It was also emotional on one side. No insults were spoken and everything that is in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. For me it was all fine and okay. That next time we can shake hands normally again and talk at eye level,” said Welz im Sport1 double pass. “It’s been spoken among men. And we’ll leave it at that.”

Immediately after his team’s 3-2 defeat and Upamecano’s early dismissal, Nagelsmann stormed through the mixed zone in the direction of the referee’s cabin. On the way back, he dropped the “softened pack” remark. Referee Welz, who was in his dressing room at the time, did not notice the insult.

“We didn’t notice that,” Welz explained. “If nobody speaks to me directly, I don’t feel addressed. That’s why it doesn’t matter to me.”

The referee defended his decision to send Upamecano off in the eighth minute after the foul on Alassane Pléa. “The Gladbach striker pushes himself in front of the Bayern player. He gets contact on the shoulder, which throws him off balance, although he’s still trying to keep running. At that moment he falls. And Bayern was the last player -Player responsible for the emergency brake, that’s why I see the red card. That’s why I made the decision on the pitch,” explained Welz.

arrogance fit? Referee Tobias Welz rejects allegations

In the group, Waldemar Hartmann described it as a “fit of arrogance” that Welz had no longer watched the scene in the review area. Welz rejected this accusation: “Everyone has their opinion, that’s totally okay. But that has nothing to do with arrogance at all. The fans want referees who decide on the pitch. That’s what I did in this case.”

Of course, he coordinated with the video assistant, Welz emphasized. “I described my situation, contact on the shoulder, which meant I was out of balance. The VAR could not have given me any other pictures,” explained the referee. “It’s a gray area decision, and in my view, absolutely nothing for the video assistant.”