- Holtby voices criticism towards the referee, stating: "No more energetic chaos."
The Red Card for Coach Marcel Rapp of Holstein Kiel has sparked discussions. Captain Lewis Holtby criticized referee Florian Exner's decision. "That's what refs are for, to cool things down, not to add fuel to the fire," the 33-year-old stated after Holstein Kiel's 0-2 (0-2) defeat at home against VfL Wolfsburg in their Bundesliga debut.
Rapp received a red card in the extra minutes (90+7) for entering the opposing team's coaching area. According to Rapp, substitute Jann-Fiete Arp was trying to retrieve the ball near the opposing team's bench and got into a skirmish with Wolfsburg players. "I went over, said 'Give me the ball', and then the ref showed me a red card," Rapp complained. "He informed me later that coaches aren't allowed in the opposing team's coaching area. I wasn't aware of that."
Holtby to the referee: "Bring some chill"
Rapp's counterpart at Wolfsburg, Ralph Hasenhüttl, was also ignorant of the rule. He frequently moved through the opposing team's coaching area without repercussions, he said, earning a "Thanks, Ralph" from Rapp. Wolfsburg's goalkeeping coach, Pascal Formann, also received a red card in the situation.
Holtby urged the referee for more discretion. "If you hadn't seen it, you might think 'Rappo' stormed over and slapped the coach," he said. "They're just people too. I get it," he said, addressing the referees. "If you're the referee, bring some chill when two heated-up bulls are essentially fighting on the pitch."
Rapp was content with the explanation but said he would keep an eye out whether the rule is always interpreted this way in the future. Hasenhüttl shared similar sentiments: "Of course, referees should uphold the rules consistently. And then, you can't blame them if that's how it's handled," said Wolfsburg's coach.
In light of the incident, Germany's football governing body might need to clarify the rules regarding coach involvement in opposing team's coaching areas. The heated encounter between Rapp and Wolfsburg players took place in Germany, showcasing the intensity of Bundesliga matches.
