Borussia Dortmund’s recent UEFA Champions League encounter against PSV Eindhoven has sparked widespread controversy following a contentious penalty call against them. The decision, which came after a tackle by Mats Hummels on PSV’s Malik Tillman inside the box, has stirred strong reactions from various quarters. Among those voicing their concerns is Borussia Dortmund consultant Matthias Sammer, who weighed in on the matter post-match.
Sammer perceives the penalty incident as part of a larger trend in the competition, highlighting what he sees as a disproportionate number of contentious calls going against German teams. Referencing a recent instance involving RB Leipzig against Real Madrid, where a contentious offside decision went against the German side, Sammer underscored his observations regarding the treatment of German clubs in the Champions League. In his interview, he remarked: “Too many erroneous decisions against German teams.”
“Too many wrong decisions against German teams! I appeal to the fact that we should again show more personality in the international committees, also clearly name things, stand up to people again, and not let this happen.” – Matthias Sammer
Per the Dortmund penalty, Sammer appealed to the physical nature of the sport, stating that such contact is very common:
“A referee must decide for the sake of football. He must consult the rulebook for clear decisions. But this decision does not justify a penalty in the context of knockout competitions. Regardless of Borussia Dortmund, regardless of Leipzig, regardless of other circumstances. Plus, the fact: this is a sport that is very physical, also very robust. Contact situations are part of it.”
Sammer’s observations regarding the physical nature of football hold some merit, as situations like the one in question often result in unavoidable contact between defender and opponent. However, Dortmund’s primary concern lies in the circumstances leading up to Hummels’ need to make the tackle in the first place.
While Sammer’s suggestion that calls against German teams in the competition are more questionable may be somewhat exaggerated, there is validity in questioning the lack of intervention from VAR in this instance. Many view the penalty decision as a contentious 50/50 situation, making the absence of VAR review somewhat perplexing.
At the end of the day, Dortmund shouldn’t be relying on refereeing decisions to get through games. This particular game, prior to the call, was there for Dortmund to win. The result itself was indicative of Dortmund’s general timid approach on the pitch, and this did more harm to the final result than the penalty call as a whole.