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Matthias Sammer

Photo: Bernd Thissen / dpa

In the opinion of European champion Matthias Sammer, there are “too many decisions against German teams” in the Champions League. The background to his criticism was the controversial penalty against Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in the 1-1 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. »I would like to advocate showing more personality in the committees, naming things clearly, clearly standing up to people again, and not putting up with it. I think Borussia Dortmund are now facing their sixth questionable penalty in the last two years. It's about the meaning of the game," said the BVB consultant on the streaming service Amazon Prime.

Hummels first played the ball during a tackle in his own penalty area, but then also hit opponent Malik Tillman. Referee Srđan Jovanović pointed to the spot, the decision was not corrected by the video referee. »Zero percent penalty for me. Tillmann was laughing his head off on the pitch, they were all grinning at me for minutes," said Hummels in outrage. PSV captain Luuk de Jong converted the penalty in the 56th minute and thus canceled out Dortmund's lead through former PSV professional Donyell Malen (24th minute).

Hummels commented on the decision again that night, this time on X, formerly Twitter. “What a joke of a penalty against us,” wrote the Borussia Dortmund veteran: “Again!”

»A referee has to decide for football. He must then consult the rules when making clear decisions. But this situation, just the way we discuss it, is not a penalty in the knockout competition in the sense of football, regardless of Borussia Dortmund, of Leipzig, regardless of other constellations," continued Sammer. RB Leipzig also recently complained about the refereeing performance in the first leg of the round of 16 against Real Madrid when the club had a goal disallowed.

BVB coach Edin Terzić referred to similarly unsatisfactory incidents in the past: “This has been with us for a while. It is the third time that we are discussing the referee after a game in the knockout phase of the Champions League. This means that the Dortmund coach is likely to call the penalty whistle against BVB in March 2023 in the duel with round of 16 opponents FC Chelsea and in April 2021 in the quarter-finals against Manchester City.

kjo/dpa