VfB Speldorf and Schwarz-Weiß Alstaden drew 3-3 in a high-calibre Bezirksliga match, but the visitors were seriously annoyed after the final whistle.

VfB Speldorf was already 3:0 ahead against Schwarz-Weiß Alstaden. The team, relegated from the Landesliga, missed the chance to score more goals. Suddenly, the visitors from Oberhausen tied the game and almost turned it around.

After the 3:3 equaliser by Marvin Dipold (82nd), a curious scene occurred about ten minutes later – in the five minutes of injury time.

Alstaden’s player-coach Raphael Steinmetz had just scored the 4:3 for his colours in a one-on-one duel with the Speldorf keeper, took off his shirt and cheered. The Alstadeners celebrated what they thought was a 4:3 away win. But suddenly they saw the referee team of Kevin Zitzen, Kai Conrads and Agejan Kreft consulting with each other.

I really don’t know what the linesman was thinking. I don’t want to accuse him of anything, but the decision is really curious and has a bad taste.

Raphael Steinmetz

And what happened? Referee Zitzen did not award the Steinmetz goal because his assistant Conrads intervened. The reason: An Alstaden substitute was said to have been standing a bit in front of the bench and apparently just inside the pitch marking immediately before the 4:3.

For ex-professional Steinmetz an absolute outrage: “I’m really at a loss for words. If that’s the case, then the bench will have to be moved and we’ll need boxes like in ice hockey. The bench in Speldorf is barely one metre away from the pitch. It’s obvious that the boys will stand up in that situation, watch the ball roll into the net and cheer. What’s the problem?”

Steinmetz continued: “The Speldorf coach Julien Schneider and his players were also very surprised about the decision. I really don’t know what the linesman was thinking. I don’t want to accuse him of anything, but the decision is really strange and has a bad taste.”

With seven points from three games, Alstaden’s start to the season has been successful. But it could have been nine points. On Wednesday, Steinmetz’s team will play VfB Bottrop in the cup, and on Sunday, the next top match in the district league will take place: Sterkrade 06/07 will come to Alstaden. Fortunately, the benches here are a little further away from the pitch markings than in Speldorf…