RWE lost 1-3 to Verl. There was controversy surrounding Julian Eitschberger’s sending off. Referee Nico Fuchs explained his decision.

In their home game against SC Verl, Rot-Weiss Essen remained winless for the third time in a row. The turning point in the 1-3 defeat against the East Westphalians, who have long since become the Bergbockers’ bogey team, was the sending-off of Julian Eitschberger (32′).

The right-back had caught Berkan Taz from behind with a sliding tackle. Referee Nico Fuchs initially showed Eitschberger the yellow card, as he had prevented an attack by the opponent. However, after consulting with his team, the referee changed his mind and gave him a red card.

The stadium on Hafenstraße erupted, with the spectators voicing their displeasure at the decision loudly for the rest of the match. After the game, referee Fuchs explained what had prompted him to change his decision.

“My initial impression was that it was a tactical foul. I thought he only hit the player lightly,” Fuchs told MagentaSport. ‘Then we discussed it as a team and went over it again in our minds. He hit him from behind with his studs showing, slid across his calf and ankle and hit him very hard,’ Fuchs continued.

The fact that Verls Taz suffered a heavily bleeding wound – he had to be substituted after the foul – was further evidence of a “dangerous foul.” And so Fuchs pulled out the red card, self-critically remarking: “Maybe I was a little too quick in my initial decision.”

RWE coach Christoph Dabrowski, meanwhile, was reluctant to comment on the incident. “I was surprised that he gave a red card. What can I say?” he replied when asked by Magenta reporter Kamila Benschop. “I’m not going to play the victim now. You saw the reaction of the spectators to the referee’s decision.” And that reaction was very clear.