The red card for Holstein Kiel coach Marcel Rapp is causing controversy. Captain Lewis Holtby criticized the decision of the referee Florian Exner. “That’s what the referee is there for, to calm things down and not to create more chaos,” said the 33-year-old after the 0:2 (0:2) defeat against VfL Wolfsburg in Kiel’s first home game in the Bundesliga.
Rapp received a red card in injury time (90th minute+7) because he had entered the opposing coaching zone. According to Rapp, substitute Jann-Fiete Arp wanted to get the ball near the visitors’ bench and got into a fight with Wolfsburg players. “I ran over there, said: ‘Give me the ball’, and then the referee came and gave me a red card,” complained the Holstein coach. “He explained to me after the game that the coach is not allowed into the opposing coaching zone. I didn’t know that until then either.”
Holtby to the referee: “Bring calm”
Rapp’s Wolfsburg colleague Ralph Hasenhüttl was also unaware of the rule. He said he had often run through the opponent’s zone without any consequences and received a “Thank you, Ralph” from Rapp. Wolfsburg’s goalkeeping coach Pascal Formann was also shown a red card in the situation.
Holtby demanded more tact from the referee. “If you hadn’t seen it, you would think ‘Rappo’ had gone over there and slapped the coach,” said Holtby. “They’re only human. Sure, I understand it,” he said to the referees. “If you’re the referee, keep calm when two heated bulls are more or less having a fight on the pitch.”
Rapp was satisfied with the explanation. He announced, however, that he would closely monitor whether the rule would always be interpreted in this way in the future. Hasenhüttl was also conciliatory: “Basically, the referees are of course required to follow the rules consistently. And you can’t blame them if it is handled this way,” said Wolfsburg’s coach.
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