Bundesliga football club FC Augsburg blames the referee and VAR for the frustration after the 2:3 defeat against FSV Mainz 05. “If that isn’t a clear red card, then I don’t understand anything about football anymore,” said FCA coach Jess Thorup on DAZN about Mainz’s Dominik Kohr’s elbow strike against Samuel Essende. The Augsburg attacker then committed an act of violence (70th minute). FCA sports director Marinko Jurendic asked: “Is the VAR in the Cologne basement blind?” Kohr had brushed Essende over the head – “and the VAR doesn’t see that,” said the Swiss angrily.
Another scene also heated tempers: After a lengthy video study, referee Sören Storks withdrew his penalty whistle after an alleged foul on FCA defender Keven Schlotterbeck (90.+10). “It’s not a clear mistake because there was definitely contact,” said Thorup. If the referee blows his whistle, it’s clearly a penalty.
Jurendic even went a step further: “Harry Kane should have been awarded the penalty,” he said, referring to a penalty that FC Bayern had awarded against Holstein Kiel the previous week. “The VAR undermines the authority of the referees.”
The frustration at FCA grew even greater when a handball penalty was not given on the first match day against Werder Bremen. “This is not the first time, but the second time in three weeks. And for me, that is a disgrace,” said Elvis Rexhbecaj.
GN De sports
