Referee acknowledges mistake as Bayern Munich criticizes Luis Díaz’s red card decision.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany and his squad expressed strong disapproval regarding the decision to dismiss Luis Díaz during Saturday’s draw against Bayer Leverkusen, with the referee later acknowledging his error.
Bayern managed to secure a 1-1 draw while playing with nine men in the Bundesliga encounter as Harry Kane made his return from injury.
Díaz, who netted the equalizer following Aleix García’s initial goal, received a red card in the 84th minute for a second yellow card due to diving. Nicolas Jackson, who started with Kane on the bench, was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle in the 42nd minute.
Referee Christian Dingert conceded after the match that sending off Díaz was not the correct decision after reviewing a replay, as reported to broadcaster Sky Sport.
“Yes, the Luis Díaz incident … is never a second yellow card, it’s never a yellow card,” Kompany stated. “We can discuss whether it’s a penalty or not, but that’s the only discussion we can have because there is contact.
“And if you observe his reaction afterwards, he gets up immediately; he cannot be more honest in that moment. He falls because there is contact, he stands up right away, and he receives a yellow, a second yellow, which means he is suspended for the next match.”
Leverkusen took the lead in the sixth minute when 18-year-old German-American winger Montrell Culbreath intercepted the ball from Díaz and passed it to Patrik Schick, who assisted García at the edge of the box. The midfielder scored with a deflected shot.
The home side defended effectively to thwart Bayern’s attempts to equalize, and frustration was evident when Jackson was sent off before halftime for a late tackle on Martin Terrier.
Bayern utilized third-choice goalkeeper Sven Ulreich due to Manuel Neuer’s calf issue and backup Jonas Urbig’s concussion sustained during the 6-1 victory over Atalanta earlier in the week in the Champions League. Ulreich denied a one-on-one attempt from Schick at the hour mark just prior to Kane’s introduction.
“The guys have known me for a long time and trust that I will be there when needed,” Ulreich remarked. “You could feel that in training this week. They have complete confidence in me. We have a fantastic group of goalkeepers. Both of them reached out to me before the match to wish me luck and were pleased that I got to play today.
“There’s a genuine sense of unity within our goalkeeping team. I’m happy to be part of that and this squad.”
Returning from a calf injury, Kane played for the first time since February 28 after scoring eight goals in his last four Bundesliga matches. He struck the ball into an empty net in the 62nd minute, but it was disallowed for interfering with the goalkeeper’s clearance with his hand during the buildup.
Díaz equalized in the 69th minute with a low shot following a precise setup from Michael Olise. After Díaz received a second yellow card, Bayern was reduced to nine players with six minutes remaining. The hosts were unable to secure a victory despite their efforts until the end, as Jonas Hofmann had a goal disallowed deep into stoppage time.
“I am extremely proud of the mental resilience the players displayed,” Kompany commented on his team. “There were numerous events occurring today.”
Bayern has not secured a league victory at Leverkusen since October 2021 and will return next month for a German Cup semifinal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
