September 19 – Already charged by UEFA because of the behaviour of their fans last week in the Europa League at Arsenal, Cologne are back in the spotlight – this time domestically where they are demanding a replay claiming that video technology in their 5-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday was at fault.
Late in the first half of the Bundesliga fixture, Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos put the ball in the net but the referee had already blown for a foul on the Cologne goalkeeper. However the goal stood when the decision was overruled by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Cologne went on to lose 5-0 but are claiming that video technology, employed in the Bundesliga this season to avoid wrong game-changing decisions, was itself used improperly.
“Of course, we want to protest [the result],” Cologne’s sporting director Jorg Schmadtke told Sky after the match. “It was an irregular decision … which is why we are seeking for the match to be replayed. I’m a proponent of the video review [system], but I’m pleading that things are kept according to protocol. People can’t just do as they please.”
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said Cologne, who have suffered a disastrous start to the season, were just guilty of sour grapes. “To protest after losing 5-0 is the strong attitude of a bad loser,” he responded.
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