FC Bayern not only dropped two points in a 2-2 draw against Hamburger SV, but also sparked a heated refereeing debate. At the center of the discussion was a controversial penalty whistle by Harm Osmers against Joshua Kimmich, which caused unrest far beyond the game itself
The game took a decisive turn in the 31st minute when HSV player Nicolai Remberg went down in the penalty area after a slight contact from Joshua Kimmich. Referee Harm Osmers unhesitatingly pointed to the spot and awarded a penalty to the home side – a decision that caused immediate displeasure among the Bavarians
Immediately after the whistle, the VAR got involved, but not with regard to the alleged foul by Kimmich. Instead, the video assistants checked for a possible offside position in the development of the scene. This was not the case and the penalty was awarded. Fábio Vieira then confidently converted the spot-kick to give HSV a 1-0 lead
What was particularly explosive was that the actual penalty decision itself was not reviewed, leaving a scene that raised considerable doubts in the aftermath – not only among Bayern, but also among neutral observers
Gräfe sharply criticizes Osmers: „That ruins soccer“
Former Bundesliga referee Manuel Gräfe had very clear words after the game. In an interview with BILD, the 52-year-old didn’t mince his words. „Kimmich is said to have caused a penalty, but in slow motion you can’t even see any contact. But even if there was a minimal touch, a graze on the shin, that is, and I have to say this quite honestly, a dirty move,“ explained Gräfe
But that’s not all: the former FIFA referee sees a structural problem in the scene. „This penalty is destroying soccer. We have a penalty problem in the Bundesliga. It’s getting out of hand,“ continued Gräfe. His statements lend the discussion additional poignancy, as he criticizes not only the individual scene, but the referees‘ general line
Bitter comparison from Bayern’s point of view
From FC Bayern’s point of view, the debate is fuelled in particular by a scene from the first half. In the 10th minute, Michael Olise went to ground in the HSV penalty area after a duel with Elfadli. In the TV images, a slight contact between the Hamburg player and the Bayern attacker’s body can be seen. Referee Osmers decided to play on and the VAR did not intervene here either
The comparison of the two situations caused a lack of understanding among the Munich players. While the minimal contact by Kimmich was punished with a penalty, an almost similar scene on the other side had no consequences. Why different standards were applied here is an open question and feeds the accusation of a lack of line.