DFB explains: That's why Neuer saw red – and Zetterer only saw yellow

In focus: Manuel Neuer (left) had to leave the field with a red card in the DFB Cup round of 16, while Michael Zetterer only received a yellow card.
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Bremen keeper Michael Zetterer caught Darmstadt's Isac Lidberg off his feet outside the penalty area in the 35th minute and received a yellow card from referee Martin Petersen. Why not red? Just like Manuel Neuer, who had bodychecked Bayer 04 sprinter Jeremie Frimpong outside the box in Munich shortly before on Tuesday evening.

“Unlike in the game in Munich, the Darmstadt attacker Isac Lidberg was further away from the goal with the ball and not in a central position. He put the ball in front of the touchline when he was fouled by the Bremen goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. The goal was scored not immediately, so no obvious scoring opportunity was prevented,” explained Peter Sippel, sporting director of the Bundesliga referees, when asked by kicker.

Regarding Neuer's foul, which Harm Osmers punished with a red card in the 17th minute, Sippel explained: “With his foul play, Manuel Neuer prevented Jeremie Frimpong from shooting the ball from around 20 meters in a central position directly at the empty goal. So an obvious scoring opportunity was prevented.”

The rules stipulate a red card for preventing an obvious goal-scoring opportunity outside the penalty area, colloquially known as an emergency stop. In practice, a “penalty discount” only exists within the penalty area if the foul occurred while trying to play the ball. Tuesday evening also provided an example of this. Bielefeld's Maximilian Großer prevented Michael Gregoritsch from having a clear chance to score, but he hit Freiburg's striker in the penalty area as part of a tackle while trying to clear the ball that had previously missed him.

Zetterer-Gelb: The coaches largely agree

Back to Zetterer's foul. You also have to take a look at the method of boarding, which Sippel did not comment on in his remarks. Zetterer's foul, similar to Neuer's, ultimately occurred with no chance of getting the ball and in an opponent-oriented manner, and even with greater momentum during the long sprint out of the goal. A red card would have been justifiable. An example of the referee's discretion, which still exists even in times of VAR and which often does not allow clear black and white decisions. In such cases, the referee's interpretation almost never satisfies everyone involved and observers.

In Bremen, both coaches were at least largely in agreement in their judgment. “I believe that there are two players deeper than Zetterer and that the ball is going away from the goal, so you can go yellow,” said Werder coach Ole Werner, but did not spare the criticism of his keeper: “Still an unnecessary situation. I don't think he needs to come out of it.”

Long-time Bremen and current Darmstadt coach Florian Kohfeldt said: “As Ole says, I'll go with you, the ball goes away from the goal, there are two players left.” Kohfeldt also pointed out other aspects: “Nevertheless, Isac has a clear shot at goal and you may also have to talk about the height of the contact where he hits it. That's probably why it's a gray area. He made that decision – we have to accept it like that.”