Ilzer slams red card call following Hoffenheim’s clear loss to Bayern

Christian Ilzer believes the referee made the wrong call by sending off Kevin Akpoguma in the first half of Hoffenheim’s 5-1 defeat to Bayern on Sunday.

TSG Hoffenheim’s hopes of challenging Bayern Munich in Sunday’s Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash at Allianz Arena took a significant hit when Kevin Akpoguma was sent off in the first half for pulling down Luis Diaz, with the referee also awarding a penalty.

Speaking after the game, Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer insisted it was the wrong call and expressed pride in his team despite the 5-1 defeat.

“Before the game, I said that if my team showed what we’re capable of and we believed in ourselves, I’d be satisfied. And I am. I saw a team that played a top-notch game in all areas we could control. But that was definitely not a red card,” Ilzer said in a post-match interview.

“We found a lot of solutions in tight spaces afterward and we have learned a lot today that we can use in the future. I’m proud of our team. We’re leaving with our heads held high.”