\n
BERLIN (AP) – German referees are under intense scrutiny after a number of questionable calls and false calls, compounded by anger that video assistant referees failed to correct them.<\/p>\n
Frustration is widespread among players and coaches, and fans’ patience is being tested by lengthy VAR checks that don’t always provide clarity and controversial calls that go completely unchecked.<\/p>\n
The latest example occurred at the German Cup on Wednesday. Early in the game, which Bayern won 2-0, Leipzig struggled to at least be awarded a free kick after Bayern Munich defender Josip Stanisic committed a clear foul on Antonio Nusa just outside the penalty area.<\/p>\n
“It’s absolutely crazy,” Leipzig coach Ole Werner said. “If four guys can’t recognize it as a foul, it’s not quarter-final level, that’s unfortunate.”<\/p>\n
Bayern’s defender Kevin Akpoguma was sent off early in last weekend’s Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim, which resulted in a questionable decision. There was no VAR intervention.<\/p>\n
Last weekend, there were controversial decisions in the Bundesliga matches between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen, Leipzig and Mainz, Hoffenheim and Union Berlin, and Augsburg and St. Pauli.<\/p>\n
Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rekshvesai called for VAR to be abolished completely after he was wrongly penalized in the following game against Mainz. Referee Patrick Ittrich’s error was not corrected due to a VAR delay of several minutes. Itrich admitted his mistake after the game, but by then it was too late.<\/p>\n
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said: “The biggest problem is that we don’t have anything in common.” “That’s difficult because the perception is different no matter who’s sitting in the studio or who’s officiating. The calls have to be consistent no matter who’s sitting there.”<\/p>\n
major matches<\/h2>\n
Bayern will visit relegation-threatened Werder Bremen on Saturday. The league leader has recovered from an unusual illness. 2 consecutive games without a win<\/span> He won’t face many problems against teams that fail to bounce in. New director Daniel Tione<\/span> Debuted last weekend. Bremen are without a win in 11 games.<\/p>\nBorussia Dortmund host Mainz on Friday and will aim to keep the pressure on Bayern by winning their sixth straight game to reduce the gap to three points. However, Mainz have won their last three matches.<\/p>\n
The battle for a spot in the Champions League remains fierce with 3rd place Hoffenheim and 6th place Leverkusen separated by six points. Only the top four finishers will qualify for Europe’s most lucrative competition. On Saturday, Hoffenheim will play Freiburg, Leverkusen will play St. Pauli and fifth-placed Stuttgart will face Cologne. Leipzig, who are ahead of Stuttgart on goal difference, host Wolfsburg on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Featured players<\/h2>\n
Colombian star Luis Diaz is arguably in the best form of his life, having scored five goals in his last three games for Bayern, including Wednesday’s cup win over Leipzig and a hat-trick against Hoffenheim last weekend.<\/p>\n
Christoph Baumgartner scored twice in Leipzig’s 2-1 win over Cologne, helping his team advance to the Champions League.<\/p>\n
Nadiem Amiri led Mainz’s resurgence under new manager Urs Fischer. Amiri scored two penalties last weekend to lift Mainz into 14th place. The team lost just once in eight league games under Fisher. Before that, they had nine losses in 13 games.<\/p>\n
off the field<\/h2>\n
Korean national team forward Lee Jae-sung has extended his contract with Mainz. Lee, 33, has scored 28 goals in 159 games for Mainz since joining on a free transfer from Holstein Kiel in 2021. Mainz have not disclosed the length of the new contract. His contract was scheduled to expire at the end of the season.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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