Penalty for freaking out in Hungary
UEFA bans Baumgart for Cologne’s European opener
8/26/2022, 6:02 p.m
The opponent is still unclear, but one thing is certain: Steffen Baumgart has to watch the first day of the Europa Conference League from the stands. The coach of 1. FC Köln was sent off in the qualifying second leg in Hungary and is therefore now suspended.
Steffen Baumgart had a premonition. “Before the game he said his fuse was short today and asked if anyone could make it longer,” revealed managing director Christian Keller after 1. FC Köln’s 3-0 win in the second leg of the Conference League playoff at Fehérvár FC laughing: “And it even lasted pretty much until the end.”
But in the 90th minute, Baumgart became a volcano: He tore his flat cap off his head, ran onto the field gesticulating wildly and picked up yellow and then yellow-red one after the other. And after the final whistle he celebrated wriggling, dancing and cheering in front of the curve. “I’ve never seen him like that,” said Florian Kainz, who captained FC in Hungary, with a smile. And Marvin Schwäbe also found his coach’s passion remarkable. “Especially when you see that he then runs up and down in the stands because he can’t calm down. That’s awesome,” said the goalkeeper: “That’s how we know him. That’s how he is. And this passion and He passes that fire on to us.”
That’s why everyone forgives him when he becomes Rumpelstiltskin and overshoots the mark. “He also knows that the yellow-red would not have been needed, especially since it will have a consequence,” said Keller: “But that shows how energized he is. You have to forgive him for that.”
As confirmed by UEFA the day after, Baumgart will be suspended for the first group game. Yellow cards and corresponding bans are deleted after the playoffs, but not dismissals. The trainer could still smile at his freak out with a little distance. “I’m going into the cabin now, I’ll shut down and smile to myself,” he said.
Against whom Baumgart gets an indoor ban, it is still unclear how the exact appointment will be. But the group is interesting with OGC Nice with coach Lucien Favre and former Bayern defender Dante, Partizan Belgrade and Czech Cup winners FC Slovacko. Then you will notice again how electrifying the European Cup is for the football enthusiast Baumgart. As a professional Baumgart was only granted half a time at the age of 18 with Schwerin. Now there will be at least six more European Cup days – even if only five on the bench for him.