Nonsense: RB coach Rose criticizes video referee

RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose has reacted with harsh criticism and clear words to the work of the video referee in the 0-0 draw in the Bundesliga against FSV Mainz 05. "For me it's grotesque. The referee played a very decent game, but I don't understand what was going on in the background," said the 47-year-old on Saturday evening. It was "water off a duck's back on this subject". Specifically, Rose was talking about three scenes that he felt were poorly handled

8th minute, handball for Leipzig

Referee Frank Willenborg decided to award a handball after a cross-field pass from Leipzig's Lois Openda bounced off Andreas Hanche-Olsen. It was clear from the first slow motion that the Norwegian had received the ball on his thigh. "We saw that on the bench after 30 seconds. It felt like it took the VAR four minutes to get that out of the way," said Rose. "I'm not sending the referee off at all."

61st minute, foul on Xavi Simons

Leipzig's Xavi Simons goes down on the penalty line after contact from Sepp van den Berg and complains. Play continues without the video referee intervening. Rose himself had not seen the scene properly during the game, the anger only came after the final whistle. "I come into the dressing room, see the scene and think to myself, please, that's not possible. That can't be true. Where are we? Why are we doing this? Why are we doing this nonsense?" asked the Leipzig player. "It's weak, it's incomprehensible, it's arbitrary, it's something."

90th minute, foul on Jonathan Burkardt

The Mainz attacker Jonathan Burkardt is brought down in a tackle with Xaver Schlager in the RB penalty area. Play continues, then video referee Daniel Schlager reports to Willenborg. "In the end, he intervenes in a situation where nobody knows why, because it's simply not a foul by Xaver Schlager. The Mainz player has no chance at all to get in front of the ball, he sticks his foot out," said Rose. Willenborg did not give a penalty and, according to Burkardt, explained that he had stuck his foot in, which is why it should not be considered a penalty kick.