“Not enough punishment”, “he should be suspended”, “he wanted to cheat”: Marcus Thuram didn’t do himself any favors with his flight against SC Freiburg. The Borussia Mönchengladbach striker has to put up with harsh criticism from ex-professionals. His coach also announces consequences.
Dietmar Hamann has harshly criticized vice-world champion Marcus Thuram for his swallow in the Bundesliga game between Borussia Mönchengladbach and SC Freiburg (0-0) and called for a ban. “For me, Thuram should be locked. For me, that’s a shame for football,” said the former German international and today’s Sky expert Hamann, adding: “It’s gross unsportsmanlike behavior, and gross unsportsmanlike behavior is punished with red.”
Thuram had stepped on the lawn in a duel with Nicolas Höfler in the second half and then dropped himself. Referee Benjamin Brand initially pointed to the penalty spot in the 65th minute, but then reversed his decision after studying the video. Thuram did not receive a yellow card for this action – only in the 84th minute when he complained too vehemently about another whistle from Brand.
“We try to convey the sport to the children with respect and decency. And if someone is banned, you’ll see that won’t happen again. After an action like this, he should be banned. A warning that’s not even gave is not enough punishment for me,” added Hamann.
It was similar for record international Lothar Matthäus. “Of course you should punish something like that. A yellow card would not be enough here because he wanted to cheat,” said Matthäus. Thuram is a repeat offender. “He needs to know that we have video evidence. The rascals will be exposed,” said Matthäus.
Hamann also thinks of the referees: “We also have to help the referees. We scold the referees every week. It’s getting faster and faster, it’s getting harder and harder for the referees. In terms of sport, there’s no question for me: At some point someone has to be blocked.”
Gladbach coach Daniel Farke announced that he wanted to talk to Thuram, “that he shouldn’t do that. Normally he doesn’t want to do something like that”. Ramy Bensebaini, who, like Thuram, will leave the club at the end of the season, also acted unsportsmanlike in the closing stages and saw a yellow-red card in the 87th minute for his mocking applause. “He has to have a better grip on himself. That shouldn’t happen,” said Farke.
