This scene in the 55th minute heated up the spirits. Marvin Stefaniak (28, 2nd from left) “digs” the ball out of the penalty area with both arms. The referee didn’t whistle. © IMAGO/Eibner/Bert Harzer
At the end of the season, no one will crow after this action and yet one can even speak of a game-decisive scene here.
Shortly after Mannheim’s goal, Waldhof was awarded a corner in the 55th minute. After she sailed into the penalty area from the right side, the ball came to Marvin Stefaniak (28). He wanted to head the ball out of the dangerous situation, but “digged” the ball out of the penalty area like a volleyball player. He is clearly on the ball with both hands and literally carries it for a very short time.
You don’t actually have to be a great football expert to come to the conclusion: It’s a clear handball, so there must be penalties. Everyone who sees this scene in the repetition probably thinks so too, and referee Tobias Schultes (32) will also have to admit it.
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He didn’t decide on a penalty and let the game continue – a clear wrong decision, which understandably caused a lot of protest from the Mannheimers. This denied them a huge opportunity to equalize.
Waldhof trainer Christian Neidhart (54) was not at all satisfied with the referee’s decision. © picture point/Sven Sonntag
The frustration was still deep at SV Waldhof after the game. On the one hand, because a bad performance left important points in Aue and on the other hand because of the fatal wrong decision.
“It’s hard to say anything about it because it has more to do with volleyball than with football. I didn’t see it in the game, otherwise I would have complained vehemently. It’s a crystal-clear penalty,” said Waldhof player Marcel Seegert (28) looking at the pictures after the game on “MagentaSport”.
“Aue had the better chances. But I would like to see the scene again, which I’m sure you’ll ask me about,” said Mannheim’s head coach Christian Neidhart (54) in an interview after the game.
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“I said to the referee, ‘Tobias (Editor’s note: Schultes is meant), if you don’t see that… If you see it on TV, you’ll be ashamed.’ But I don’t want to say anything more about the scene, of course it annoys you. An even clearer penalty would probably be if you caught the ball,” added the coach and even took the scene with a little humor.
An official statement from DFBs there has not yet been a wrong decision. The referee also did not comment on the penalty that was not awarded.