SV Elversberg can count on head coach Vincent Wagner for their match against FC Bayern. In a surprise move, the DFB Sports Court has lifted the suspension against the 40-year-old. Wagner will therefore be allowed to take his place on the bench on Sunday against the record champions.
Wagner had been sent to the stands with a yellow-red card during Elversberg’s 4-3 away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. He had initially entered the field of play after what he considered a wrong call by referee Martin Petersen and was shown a yellow card for doing so. At halftime, Wagner walked toward the referee again—Petersen then showed him a yellow-red card.
SV Elversberg’s initial appeal against the resulting one-game suspension was rejected on Monday. The DFB cited the referee’s factual determination in its ruling.
However, Elversberg was not satisfied with this and filed another appeal. It was successful: The DFB Sports Court overturned the previous ruling on Friday following an oral hearing at the DFB Campus in Frankfurt. This also lifts the suspension for the match against Bayern.
Referee Petersen Admits to a Mistake
The decisive factor in this unusual ruling was apparently the referee’s new assessment: Martin Petersen subsequently described his decision to send off the player as a mistake.
“In hindsight, I felt my reaction was inappropriate. I wouldn’t make the same decision again. I may have been too sensitive and misinterpreted the situation,” the referee explained.
Marco Fritz, who is responsible for rules at the DFB, also assessed the incident as a wrong call. “I can’t see anything that justifies a yellow-red card. It’s obvious that his entry onto the field wasn’t disrespectful. There’s no indication that he was trying to stir up the crowd. I don’t see anything there beyond a warning,” said the former referee.
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DFB Sports Court Chairman Stephan Oberholz described the lifting of the suspension as an “absolute exception.” He noted that this step was only possible because Petersen had admitted his mistake.
Wagner himself expressed relief afterward: “I’m glad that justice has been served.” This means nothing now stands in the way of the coach leading his team from the sidelines against FC Bayern on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.