Bundesliga
“Unbelievable”: Mainz anger over missed penalty
Mainz striker Ludovic Ajorque (l) was hit in the head with his foot by Berlin’s Robin Knoche. photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
Mainz and Union Berlin draw 1-1 in the Bundesliga relegation battle. However, the result then plays a subordinate role. Especially for the people of Mainz who are outraged by a controversial scene.
After the 1-1 draw against the FSV Mainz 05 1. FC Union Berlin outraged by a controversial referee decision. “Unbelievable, I have no words,” said midfielder Nadiem Amiri after the game on DAZN.
The reason for the trouble was a situation in the tenth minute when Mainz striker Ludovic Ajorque was hit in the head by Berlin’s Robin Knoche in the opposing penalty area. Ajorque was bleeding from the head and had to be treated, but referee Martin Petersen did not award a penalty.
“What do we have the video evidence for? I don’t understand it,” complained Amiri. “It’s clearly a penalty. He’s kicking him in the face with his studs. I think his nose is broken. He’s been bleeding the whole game and it’s not a penalty, or what?”
His teammate Jonathan Burkardt couldn’t believe it either. “It’s unbelievable,” said the striker, who scored the 1-0 (45th + 8th minute). “That really hurts, for me it was a clear penalty. I don’t even know what the reasoning is in retrospect. You have to see that in the pictures.” Instead of a penalty, the referee decided on a corner.