After the top game in the Bundesliga, Julian Nagelsmann is outraged that there is no dismissal. The reason is Jude Bellingham’s hit against Alphonso Davies’ head. While referee Deniz Aytekin defends the decision, the BVB star wants to pick up the phone.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham wants to apologize to Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies for involuntarily hitting his head in the top league game. He got the number, “and I want to send him a message to apologize,” said the 19-year-old after the 2-2 win against Munich: “His head was a bit low, but I hit him. Anyone who knows me knows: I get into tackles, but I never want to hurt anyone.”
Bellingham, warned early on, hit Davies in the face with his foot just before half-time. The visibly dazed full-back was then substituted and taken to hospital with suspected concussion. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said after the game that it was a dismissal, “and a flawless one at that”. And further: “Four months ago we had a training session. They told us that a kick in the face is smooth red.”
Referee Deniz Aytekin had rated the action as unintentional and let it continue. “In the scene I lacked the last conviction to go on yellow-red and decide a game like that,” said the referee. “I can understand anyone who interprets the scene differently. There are situations that are not black and white,” added Aytekin. “I don’t see it as a clear red card,” Aytekin replied to Nagelsmann’s request in ZDF’s current sports studio.
Former referee Manuel Gräfe saw a different problem. “He made it difficult for himself with the early yellow cards,” said Gräfe about Aytekin’s quick warnings in the early stages. Aytekin himself said that Bellingham’s first warning was a “may-yellow card”.
Bellingham also received support from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “If I’m honest, I’m also a bit with the referee and I understand that he didn’t want to finally bring the stadium to a boil. It would have been a tough decision to send him off with yellow-red,” said the former Bavarian -CEO at Bild-TV. Manuel Neuer spoke of a game-changing scene. “In my opinion, the head is not too low. At the beginning of the season, the referees told us that hitting the head is more likely to be punished with a red card. The referee has to weigh that up.” Unlike his coach, however, he said: “We’re not asking for a red card.”
