BAYERN MUNICH amazingly played with 12 men at one stage in a controversial 4-1 win over Freiburg.
The German giants’ Bundesliga triumph could even be in doubt after they cocked up a late double substitution.
Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer and ref Christian Dingert argue over the bizarre cock-up[/caption]
epa09866000 Munich’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer argues due to a controversial substitution during the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern Munich in Freiburg, Germany, 02 April 2022. EPA/RONALD WITTEK CONDITIONS – ATTENTION: The DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video.[/caption]
Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann insisted the brief 85thminute incident had no bearing on the result and was due to a problem with the electronic scoreboard.
But referee Christian Dingert afterwards pointed the finger at Bayern official Kathleen Kruger for signalling Conan’s old number 29 rather than the winger’s current No11.
And Sport Bild suggest the victory might be taken away from Bayern, with a points deduction also possible.
They were 3-1 up at the time – before one of the two late subs, Marcel Sabitzer, made it four during stoppage time.
It had all been more routine earlier on.
Leon Goretzka eventually put Nagelsmann’s team in front on 58 minutes by heading a comeback goal after four months out.
Nils Petersen levelled with his first touch after coming on for Freiburg.
But Bayern sub Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman left Bayern in control by the 82nd minute.
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Naelsmann promptly brought on Niklas Sule for Goretzka’s injured replacement Corentin Tolisso and Sabitzer – with Coman supposed to go off.
But the Bayern chief explained afterwards that the France star hadn’t realised – as the No29 was shown.
And as the visitors don’t have a No 29, NOBODY went off.
Nagelsmann claimed he immediately noticed the error.
And he was keen to argue that nothing of note happened in the ‘eight to nine seconds’ when his side had 12 players.
But ref Dingert insisted Bayern had blundered over sub shirt numbers and added: “We noted that in the match report.”
