Bayer Leverkusen phantom goal decision expected end of October

Third-place Leverkusen enjoyed a 2-1 victory at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Friday, but replays showed Stefan Kiessling headed the winning goal via a hole in the side netting.

A decision on Bayer Leverkusen's 'phantom' goal is not expected to be made before the end of October, according to the German Football League's (DFL) managing director.

Third-place Leverkusen enjoyed a 2-1 victory at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Friday, but replays showed Stefan Kiessling headed the winning goal via a hole in the side netting.

Hoffenheim have demanded a replay and the German Football Federation (DFB) will meet on Monday to review the goal and assess referee Felix Brych's match report.

A hearing is expected to be scheduled on Monday which will decide whether a replay will be ordered or the result stands.

Andreas Rettig, managing director of the DFL has said scheduled elections within the DFB on Thursday and Friday could delay a date for the hearing until the end of October.

The DFB have already made contact with world football's governing body FIFA for a clarification of the legal parameters of the unusual situation.

"We can totally understand that such a 'phantom' goal is perceived as unjust," said DFB vice-president Rainer Koch, who is responsible for legal and constitutional issues.

"The knee-jerk calls for the game to be replayed is understandable, but we know from the past that FIFA tend to protect the decisions of the officials."

There is a precedent for this unusual situation after a replay was ordered when Bayern Munich's Thomas Helmer was credited with a goal which didn't go in the net in a 2-1 win over Nuremberg in April 1994.

Nuremburg lodged a complaint to the DFB but Bayern won the replay 5-0 on their way to clinching the title.