Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund suspended after referee and officials walk off the pitch
Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt refused to leave the touchline after contentious decision by match official Felix Zwayer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga meeting on Sunday was briefly suspended when home manager Roger Schmidt refused to leave the field.
The Leverkusen head coach was ordered to sit in the stands by match referee Felix Zwayer after complaining about unsporting play before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opening goal, which was allowed by the officials.
When Steffan Kiessling fouled Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender in midfield, the resultant free-kick was taken quickly, much to the anger of the home team, and directly led to the first goal of the game.
Kiessling led Leverkusen’s vociferous protests and Schmidt was ordered to leave his dugout. When he refused, Zwayer suspended play and ordered his fellow match officials to exit down the tunnel.
.@BVB and @bayer04fussball temporarily suspended after referee Felix Zwayer has enough of Leverkusen's complaints! https://t.co/mVqm0mbBUm
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) February 21, 2016
Initially, both sets of players stood on the pitch bemused by the decision before eventually heading off the field.
The game restarted approximately eight minutes later without Schmidt on the touchline and Dortmund held on to win 1-0.
"To suspend the game and be so hectic about everything was totally unnecessary," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller told Sky Sport after the match.
"Making out that something really terrible had happened was totally over the top.
"Clearly the referee felt he had to make things a bit more exciting. You can send a coach off, but the referee could have been sensible about explaining to him why, but he didn't do that."
Schmidt, speaking after the game, admitted that he should have accepted the punishment and apologised for his part in the incident’s escalation.
"It was maybe a bit stubborn of me, but when the referee wants to send a coach to the stands, it's not really very helpful," he said.
"Maybe it was wrong of me and I'm sorry. I am in a position where people look up to me and I did not do that justice.
"But in all the hectic emotion, you sometimes do get carried away."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments