FC Bayern took a big step towards the Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-1 away win at Atalanta Bergamo. Nevertheless, a scene from the final phase of the game is now causing discussion: Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise each received their third yellow card in the current competition within a few minutes – and could possibly miss the record champions for longer than just the second leg
Both players will miss the second leg of the round of 16 tie in Munich with automatic suspensions , but the question remains as to whether the cautions were deliberately provoked
The two scenes took place in the closing stages of the match: with the score at 6:0, Michael Olise took a conspicuously long time to take a corner kick in the 77th minute and was cautioned for it
A few minutes later, Joshua Kimmich was also cautioned, as the Bayern midfielder delayed taking a free-kick until referee Espen Eskås also showed him a yellow card
As both players had already collected two cautions, they are automatically suspended for the second leg
At first glance, this situation might even appear to make strategic sense, as it would mean that Kimmich and Olise would be eligible to play in the quarter-finals without a yellow card
Kimmich rejects intention
However, Kimmich himself refuted the claim that the caution was deliberately provoked. In an interview with Prime Video, the 31-year-old explained his view of the situation. „In itself, it was unnecessary. I was looking for a suitable passing option. You don’t want to play into pressing,“ said Kimmich
The midfielder explained that he only wanted to resolve the situation in the game. „The opponent left Tom a little free. I had the feeling they were just leaving him free to press. I was just about to play the ball out, but it was too late – annoying.“
It remains to be seen whether UEFA will investigate the incident further. When asked by the German Press Agency, the European soccer association would neither confirm nor deny whether proceedings had been initiated. „As soon as incidents are reported, proceedings will be initiated. If they lead to disciplinary measures, these will be published on UEFA’s disciplinary website,“ UEFA explained
The background: According to Article 15 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, a player can be punished additionally if he „obviously intentionally“ receives a yellow or red card
Ramos case serves as an example
A similar case made headlines back in 2019, when Sergio Ramos deliberately picked up a yellow card in the Champions League round of 16 between Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam
The difference to Kimmich and Olise, however, is that the Spaniard himself later admitted that he had accepted the caution in order to be able to play in the quarter-finals without a yellow card. UEFA responded with an additional penalty
In addition to the ban for the second leg, which was due anyway, Ramos also had to sit out the following Champions League match
Should UEFA come to a similar conclusion for Kimmich and Olise, the Bayern duo could also face an additional two-match ban
However, it is still unclear whether the European governing body will actually investigate the incident further, so it remains to be seen for FC Bayern whether the two key players will only miss the second leg against Atalanta – or possibly even longer.