Match ends, 1. FSV Mainz 05 2, Sport-Club Freiburg 0.
MainzMainz 052FreiburgSC Freiburg0
A penalty was awarded after players had already left the pitch for half-time in Mainz's Bundesliga win over relegation rivals Freiburg on Monday.
Referee Guido Winkmann called both sides back from the dressing room after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR) system and penalising Freiburg for handball.
Mainz midfielder Pablo de Blasis scored the penalty to put the hosts 1-0 up.
"It leaves a bitter taste," Freiburg sporting director Jochen Saier said.
Speaking to Eurosport at half-time, he added that they had to "accept it with a heavy heart".
"We were under the impression that when the referee blows for half-time that's it," said Saier.
The second half was delayed by fans throwing toilet paper onto the pitch, which was not related to the penalty decision but instead a protest against Bundesliga fixtures being played on Monday nights.
De Blasis scored a second on 78 minutes to secure victory, taking Mainz above Freiburg on goal difference and eight points clear of automatic relegation, while putting the visitors into the relegation play-off spot in 16th.
Mainz initially had the penalty appeal turned down after right-back Daniel Brosinski's cross deflected off Freiburg centre-back Marc-Oliver Kempf's hand and was saved by keeper Alexander Schwolow.
As the players departed the pitch, Winkmann was told to consult VAR and ran over to the other side of the pitch to watch the replay on a monitor.
Winkmann overturned the decision and awarded the hosts a penalty before having to recall the entire Freiburg side and the handful of Mainz players who had left the pitch.
Following a delay of over six minutes De Blasis scored the penalty in the bottom left corner and Winkmann blew again for half-time, during which the unfortunate Kempf was substituted.
De Blasis added a lucky second as his shot rolled over the line after hitting the inside of the post, with Schwolow out of his goal having passed the ball straight to Mainz midfielder Robin Quaison.
Analysis
European football writer Andy Brassell on BBC Radio 5 live
Potentially one of the most vital goals in the fight at the bottom, but a new low for VAR.
The ref maybe shouldn't have sent them off as quickly, it depends on how quickly VAR contacted him.
The problem is not the technology, it is the process. I can't understand why referees are involved in the decision-making process at all, if it is to be used for clear and obvious errors, surely the VAR has to tell the referee what the decision is.
In this case you've got a couple thousand fans off to the bar and they come back thinking it is 0-0.
I still think the penalty is debatable.
Line-ups
Mainz
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Adler
- 18Brosinski
- 3BalogunBooked at 75mins
- 42Hack
- 4Diallo
- 23SerdarSubstituted forde Jongat 80'minutes
- 25Gbamin
- 6Latza
- 8ÖztunaliSubstituted forHoltmannat 85'minutes
- 7Quaison
- 32De BlasisSubstituted forUjahat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 5de Jong
- 10Maxim
- 11Berggreen
- 20Ujah
- 21Onisiwo
- 22Müller
- 38Holtmann
Freiburg
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Schwolow
- 4Söyüncü
- 5GuldeBooked at 56mins
- 20KempfSubstituted forKleindienstat 45'minutes
- 15Stenzel
- 27Höfler
- 25KochSubstituted forSchusterat 69'minutes
- 30Günter
- 19HabererBooked at 30mins
- 18Petersen
- 9HölerSubstituted forKathat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 17Kübler
- 22Sierro
- 23Schuster
- 31Guédé
- 34Kleindienst
- 38Kath
- 44Gikiewicz
- Referee:
- Guido Winkmann
- Attendance:
- 26,407
Match Stats
Home TeamMainzAway TeamFreiburg
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away0
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, 1. FSV Mainz 05 2, Sport-Club Freiburg 0.
Post update
Foul by Robin Quaison (1. FSV Mainz 05).
Post update
Nicolas Höfler (Sport-Club Freiburg) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Julian Schuster (Sport-Club Freiburg) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, 1. FSV Mainz 05. Anthony Ujah replaces Pablo De Blasis.
Post update
Attempt missed. Manuel Gulde (Sport-Club Freiburg) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Julian Schuster with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Gerrit Holtmann (1. FSV Mainz 05).
Post update
Janik Haberer (Sport-Club Freiburg) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Nils Petersen (Sport-Club Freiburg) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Janik Haberer with a cross.
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Foul by Gerrit Holtmann (1. FSV Mainz 05).
Post update
Janik Haberer (Sport-Club Freiburg) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, 1. FSV Mainz 05. Gerrit Holtmann replaces Levin Öztunali.
Post update
Foul by Nigel de Jong (1. FSV Mainz 05).
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Nils Petersen (Sport-Club Freiburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Sport-Club Freiburg. Conceded by Pablo De Blasis.
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Corner, Sport-Club Freiburg. Conceded by Alexander Hack.
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Foul by Robin Quaison (1. FSV Mainz 05).
Post update
Nicolas Höfler (Sport-Club Freiburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Comments
Join the conversation
the ref shouldn't have any say on VAR unless the managers challenge a decision - and all you got to do is give the managers 1 or 2 challenges per half - its that simple - i really don't understand why this is so complex-
#Baffled
'the beautiful game'? What's beautiful about it? It's full of cheats and none you so called 'sports fans' care about that!
@2 "VAR in its current form stifles the flow of a game.."
So ALL the players rolling around as though they've been shot in not a problem to you and keeps the game flowing? GET REAL.
Ha Ha....... Its making even more. Unintended consequences in play.
you can't abuse it if you get a limited about of challenges, you only need 1 or 2 permitted challenges per half.
at most the game will have 3/4 challenges per game and its up to the managers if they want to use it rather the Ref being unsure and causing interruption to the game.
Feel sorry for Freiburg though. Must have been frustrating.
With the protests of Monday night football thrown in as well, the Bundesliga is under fire from fans.
Imagine a World Cup, 0-0 FT. Referee goes back 3 minutes to give a penalty for a missed handball. Riots.
The current process works by the VAR referee needing to review replays BEFORE indicating that the on-pitch referee needs to review the footage again. It takes too long.
Also, in the highlights, how does he almost miss an open goal?!
The fact that the whistle had been blown is irrelevant as it is no different from any other stoppage in play.
Every problem is with the officials, the ref should be told within seconds that there is a possible VAR review needed, he can then inform the teams at the next stop in play and view it.