Because of “super referee” Zwayer
DFB reacts to the foaming anger of VfB Stuttgart
April 29, 2024, 10:13 a.m
Bayer Leverkusen’s late 2-2 draw against VfB Stuttgart caused a lot of trouble for the Swabians. Even the future of VAR is being questioned. The DFB is now commenting on referee Felix Zwayer’s decisions and making a clear announcement.
The German Football Association has clearly rejected VfB Stuttgart’s harsh criticism of referee Felix Zwayer’s decisions after the late 2-2 draw in the top Bundesliga game at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday evening. “I can understand that Stuttgart are annoyed about the late equalizer,” said DFB referee boss Lutz-Michael Fröhlich in a statement from the association. “But everything was fine when it came to scoring the goal, so it’s not fair to criticize the referee here.”
From the Swabians’ perspective, Leverkusen’s substitute attacker Victor Boniface had illegally pushed VfB defender Anthony Rouault before the 2-2 score in stoppage time. In addition, Piero Hincapie touched the ball with his arm before Robert Andrich’s goal (90th + 6th minute). “For me, the goal has to be disallowed. The least it can do is look at it,” said Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß on Sky. “I just can’t understand that. There’s so much at stake, it’s the 96th minute. Then not going out in a situation like that is incomprehensible to me. From our point of view it’s extremely bitter.”
DFB striker Deniz Undav, who was shown a yellow card by Zwayer after a brief dispute with Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou, shouted scornfully on the way into the dressing room: “Great referee, best referee”, and sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth agreed: “You have to think about it. what the VAR is for. If there is this controversial scene in this game, you have to at least look at it.”
Zwayer did not watch the scene again on the sidelines on Saturday evening. The goal was scored in accordance with the rules, explained Fröhlich, Managing Director of Sports and Communications at DFB Schiri GmbH. That is why the video assistants did not recommend that the referee check the action himself. He had also previously been in the spotlight several times because he and his team management had contributed to the rough duel. The 2-2 draw kept Leverkusen’s impressive series intact and the new German champions are still unbeaten this season.