Augsburg head coach Manuel Baum has admitted that his animated touchline protest during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen was calculated. Baum received a yellow card from referee Daniel Siebert after vehemently protesting Leverkusen’s apparent equalizer on the hour mark. Ibrahim Maza’s deflected effort initially stood after Jarell Quansah twice tested Finn Dahmen following an Aleix García corner.
The Augsburg trainer nevertheless spotted something before the corner was taken. Quansah had clearly shoved Hennes Behrens to the ground before subsequently becoming involved in the attacking sequence. Baum therefore made certain that the officials knew precisely what he thought.
“To be honest, sometimes one has to create a dramatic scene in order to get someone to look [at a scene] more closely,” Baum said of the yellow card he received. “The possibility that – since the incident occurred before the corner – nobody would take a look at it was too realistic.”
Baum’s intervention ultimately coincided with the desired result. VAR summoned Siebert to the review area and the referee quickly reversed his decision after seeing Quansah’s foul. The FCA head coach nevertheless stopped short of claiming that his protest had actually prompted the review.
“One has to say something in such a case,” Baum continued. “That’s part of the game. I don’t know [if it had an effect]. I assume that the refereeing team would have reviewed the scene anyway. Every so often one has to speak up when one sees that something isn’t right.”
Recent Vincent Wagner ruling offers some parallels
A remarkably similar refereeing controversy produced an unusual DFB intervention only two days ago. The DFB overturned SV Elversberg trainer Vincent Wagner’s suspension following his controversial dismissal against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Wagner’s second yellow was eventually deemed unjustified after referee Martin Petersen acknowledged that he had misinterpreted the coach’s actions. The DFB sports court subsequently reversed the dismissal and automatic suspension. Baum’s case differs in one important respect. The Augsburg trainer received only a single yellow card rather than a yellow-red carrying an automatic suspension. Ordinary cautions are generally not subject to the same appeals process.
Baum correctly identified an incident that the match officials had initially missed and his complaint preceded the correct VAR intervention. His caution nevertheless appears likely to remain on his record.
The booking proved Baum’s only punishment on Saturday. Augsburg surrendered their 2-1 lead late when Patrik Schick equalized in the 89th minute, but remained unbeaten through the first three Bundesliga matchdays. For the most part, Baum’s team appeared pleased with the fact that a point enabled them to continue their undefeated start to the current Bundesliga campaign.
Two wins (against Schalke 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt) and the Bayer Leverkusen draw leave the Fuggerstädter in third place on seven points. Augsburg entered the weekend at the top of the Bundesliga table. As the third round of Bundesliga action gets set to conclude, another surprise club occupies first place. Freiburg serve as the new Bundesliga “Spitzenreiter” following their perfect start to the campaign.
