HSV lose in Freiburg: referee Gerach came across shockingly arrogant! | OneFootball

HSV suffered an unfortunate defeat at SC Freiburg. Throughout the more than 100-minute-long match, referee Timo Gerach was mostly at the center of attention.

Yet, the referee is not supposed to be the main protagonist. It is preferable when he stays in the background and allows the players their space, only intervening when necessary. Gerach, however, had a different approach to his work from the very beginning on Saturday afternoon. He did not have a good day. After just four minutes, Daniel Elfadli received an excessive yellow card for a run-of-the-mill foul on Yuito Suzuki and a brief scuffle that followed. This would have further consequences.

In general, the referee chose a very petty line and allowed little flow to the game. Often, minor falls led to a free kick, which would likely have left a typical Premier League observer shaking their head. The 39-year-old from the Palatinate stuck to his approach, which ultimately resulted in the Freiburg penalty. Lucas Höler gratefully accepted contact from Elfadli. Gerach then did not hesitate to show the defender a second yellow card for denying a promising opportunity. Vincenzo Grifo converted the penalty to equalize. But that was not all.

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Afterwards, the referee continued to be overly fussy. He was especially bothered by minor things like briefly kicking the ball away or players and coaches seeking contact with him. As a result, Daniel Heuer Fernandes and Merlin Polzin received yellow cards without having complained significantly. The captain’s rule, which has been part of the regulations since summer 2024, supports Gerach’s actions. However, communication at eye level—as exemplified by leading German referees like Deniz Aytekin, Daniel Siebert, or Sven Jablonski—was nonexistent.

All these shortcomings would have been bearable from Hamburg’s perspective if it hadn’t been for the decisive scene in the 83rd minute. Igor Matanovic scored from close range to secure the winning goal for Freiburg. Just before, however, Johan Manzambi clearly caught defender Jordan Torunarigha in the face with his elbow during an aerial duel. Even after a brief consultation with VAR Arne Aarnink, the goal stood, marking a significant departure from Gerach’s previous approach.

Photo: IMAGO

Referees are, after all, athletes just like professional footballers. Bad days are part of every career. Gerach, however, capped off his shockingly self-important performance after the match in the DAZN interview by failing to recognize any mistake even after seeing the TV footage: “I perceive that the striker has the better position for the ball and also goes for the ball. The defender comes from behind. There is some contact somewhere, but for me, that’s all typical football. I don’t see the typical ‘I go up, look at the opponent, and somehow make a striking motion.’ I didn’t perceive that.”

To classify Manzambi’s elbow as a “football-typical contact” while penalizing almost every borderline foul throughout the match seems highly questionable. At the same time, Gerach fit perfectly into the current prevailing image of DFB referees—aside from a few exceptions—characterized by an unhealthy mix of poor decision-making, lack of composure, and a non-existent culture of admitting mistakes, which had already caused great anger at HSV after the 1:4 defeat in Cologne.

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