"Enough is enough! Bayern penalty sparks heated debate" | OneFootball

FC Bayern's 4:1 victory over TSG Hoffenheim became a side issue after the final whistle. A controversial hand penalty in the second half stirred up emotions - especially for TV expert Dietmar Hamann. While referee Robert Hartmann defended his decision, the former national player lost his temper on Sky.

Shortly after the break, the controversial scene occurred. Sacha Boey took a shot from close range, the ball first hit Hoffenheim's defender Albian Hajdari on the leg and from there to the extended right arm. Referee Robert Hartmann did not hesitate and pointed to the spot - without VAR intervention.

The referee provided his explanation after the game on Sky: "Technically, I can't avoid a whistle for the handball. Of course, it's bitter for the defender. He holds his hand almost 90 degrees away from the body, under tension. This blocks the ball. Technically, it's a 100 percent clear penalty."

For Hartmann, it didn't matter that the ball was initially deflected by the thigh. "Because the arm is already held like that, because it is under tension. The deflection technically doesn't matter."

A interpretation that completely baffled Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer. "Never in a million years" would that be a penalty, the Austrian emphasized at the press conference.

Hamann's Outburst and Prominent Criticism

Photo: IMAGO

Dietmar Hamann was much louder than Ilzer in the Sky studio. "When I hear: 'The rule allows it.' Then we need to change the rule. Enough is enough! This has nothing to do with football anymore. We can't give hand penalties for such things. It's simply wrong and not in the spirit of football," raged the 50-year-old.

What particularly bothered him was that the ball bounced up from Hajdari's calf before it touched the arm. "I can't give a penalty like that. The ball goes five meters over the goal. Yes, where should he put his arm? That's a natural arm movement," argued Hamann. For him, the penalty, which Harry Kane confidently converted, decided the game early: "Bayern were lucky, even if they played it down confidently in the end."

Hamann received support from Erik Meijer, who referred to the current rule interpretation but also viewed it critically: "I think it's exaggerated, but by 2025 these are the rules."

"That's Not an Argument"

Michael Ballack, working as an expert for DAZN, also had "a problem with the referee's argumentation". The former captain reminded that deflections from other body parts have so far been a clear indication against a punishable handball: "The arm is spread out when you run. The fact that it is under tension is not an argument."

Hartmann countered and referred to the confirmation by the VAR: "I don't need to review a clear penalty, it's simply confirmed."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.