Ilzer slams “scandalous” refereeing decision after Hoffenheim’s loss to Dortmund

TSG Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer blasted the officiating as “scandalous” after Oliver Baumann was denied a free-kick prior to Borussia Dortmund’s decisive goal.

Deep into stoppage time at the PreZero Arena, with the score locked at 2–2 between TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund, the match took a dramatic – and highly controversial – turn.

Dortmund’s Carney Chukwuemeka charged towards Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, colliding with him painfully on the head and leaving him unable to react to the decisive goal that followed, scored by Waldemar Anton.

Hoffenheim head coach Christian Ilzer was infuriated by the referee’s decision to allow the goal to stand.

“Scandalous decision! We’re talking about a head injury. I’ve watched it multiple times – you can see Oliver Baumann’s bruised face. Chukwuemeka doesn’t touch the ball. Oli is knocked out, and the Dortmund player scores into an empty net,” he told Sky Germany.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, on the other hand, believed referee Benjamin Brand made the right call.

“I think Carney (Chukwuemeka) touches the ball just a fraction earlier, so for me, that’s not a foul. The fact that the ball then falls to us and Waldi (Anton) puts it in – that’s just how it played out. 

“If Baumann had the ball first, it’s a foul. But you can see that Carney gets a touch on it a millisecond earlier.”