Referee Wolfgang Stark apologised for awarding a controversial penalty kick against Borussia Dortmund and sending off defender Marcel Schmelzer in their Bundesliga defeat at home to VfL Wolfsburg.
"I have looked at it again later and unfortunately it was an error of perception on my part", he told reporters outside his dressing room. "I am sorry, that should not happen. The penalty and the red card were a mistake on my part. That's annoying". Schmelzer was judged to have handled the ball to stop Bas Dost's goal-bound shot going into the net, but replays showed that ball hit Schmelzer's knee and, although it also brushed his fist, the contact was insignificant and clearly unintentional. A penalty was awarded, Schmelzer sent off and Diego converted the penalty. After Stark admitted his mistake, the German FA announced that Schmelzer would not be suspended, meaning he can play in Dortmund's final Bundesliga game of the year at Hoffenheim.
Borussia Dortmund became the latest victim of the so-called triple punishment - when a player who denies the opposition a clear goal-scoring opportunity concedes a penalty, is shown the red card and then has to serve an automatic suspension. A FIFA working group led by former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, which has now been wound up, suggested replacing the red card with a yellow card except in the case of dangerous tackles. The proposal was studied by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in March and was put on hold.
Source: Yahoo Sports
Borussia Dortmund became the latest victim of the so-called triple punishment - when a player who denies the opposition a clear goal-scoring opportunity concedes a penalty, is shown the red card and then has to serve an automatic suspension. A FIFA working group led by former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, which has now been wound up, suggested replacing the red card with a yellow card except in the case of dangerous tackles. The proposal was studied by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in March and was put on hold.
Source: Yahoo Sports
