Controversial Penalties in Bundesliga Matches

Bayern Munich’s recent away victory against Hoffenheim and Freiburg’s win over Bremen stirred debates over penalty decisions made during the games. While officiating teams have defended their choices, they might still face scrutiny, potentially affecting their ratings in the German media. The DFB could issue a conflicting report in the near future.

Past Criticism of Penalty Decisions

The German Football Association has previously released harsh evaluations concerning wrongly awarded handball penalties, with the most recent instances documented in the fall seasons of 2022 and 2024. The German audience remains particularly vocal about such issues, as seen during the recent Champions League match where Bayern’s Michael Olise was cheered for a foul against Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella.

Hoffenheim vs. Bayern Munich

In the match against Hoffenheim, two penalties were awarded to Bayern. Harry Kane scored a pivotal penalty after a foul by Hoffenheim defender Bernardo was confirmed via VAR in the 75th minute, following an initial penalty awarded in the 48th-minute by the same referee.

Many observers were taken aback by the referee’s decision regarding a second penalty, where replays indicated that Hoffenheim’s Albian Hajdari unintentionally handled the ball after it deflected off his thigh. Many in the Bundesliga media believe that the penalty awarded did not align with the rulebook.

After the match, referee Robert Hartmann explained to Sky Germany that he had received confirmation from the VAR team that a penalty was warranted. However, the accuracy of that decision has been questioned in the past.

“In line with the rules, I couldn’t reverse the call,” Hartmann stated. “Although it’s unfortunate for the defender. He [Hajdari] had his arm at a 90-degree angle and moved it before the ball struck. It seemed evident to me, and I got confirmation from VAR.”

Hartmann noted that the placement of the referee significantly impacts perception and decision-making. “The rules are quite unambiguous, and I feel fortunate to have made the right call.”

Kane has now set a record with his 17th successful penalty, surpassing players Hans-Joachim Abel and Max Kruse, each of whom converted their first 16 penalties in the Bundesliga. Notably, Kruse missed his chance to become the all-time record holder due to a saved penalty against Köln in November 2020.

The only prior miss for Kane came in Bayern’s Pokal match against SV Wehen Wiesbaden, but he has remained flawless in his subsequent attempts.

Bremen vs. Freiburg

Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo had a chance to gradually erase last season’s disappointments, similarly benefiting from a 31st-minute penalty awarded by referee Timo Gerach. This decision, however, was even more contentious, with Bremen’s Cameron Puertas unintentionally handling the ball after it bounced off his foot.

It appeared that Freiburg’s Maximilian Eggestein had nudged Puertas, but Gerach documented his rationale in the official match log, accessible to media like Kicker.

“Definitely a debatable decision,” wrote Gerach. “I had a great view of the situation; I noticed the Bremen player attempting to control the ball with his foot before it deflected upwards. He couldn’t make contact with his chest.”

Gerach added, “Every player knows that instinct to move your arm toward the ball when trying to control it. That’s why I opted to award the penalty.”

In closing, he clarified, “But I did not see any pushing or pulling, and I felt there was no foul. Thus, from my view, it was a punishable handball.”