‘Phantom goal’ leaves Hoffenheim livid

Hoffenheim have called for a replay after losing 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a freak ‘phantom’ goal as the German Football Federation (DFB) prepares to investigate.

Hoffenheim have called for a replay after losing 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a freak ‘phantom’ goal as the German Football Federation (DFB) prepares to investigate.

Leverkusen went top of the Bundesliga on Friday as Stefan Kiessling’s 70th-minute winner at Hoffenheim was scored in bizarre circumstances.

Replays showed his header only ended in the back of the net after flying through a hole in the side netting.

In the immediate wake of the goal, Kiessling could be seen waving his arms in frustration at what he clearly thought was a miss. But with the ball in the net, he was quickly congratulated by team mates and match official Dr Felix Brych, a FIFA referee, awarded the goal.

A DFB sports court is set to meet on Monday to investigate the goal with Hoffenheim expected to lodge an appeal while Brych will file a report. “It’s a scandal. We are definitely going to protest,” Hoffenheim director Alexander Rosen fumed to reporters after the match. “That was no goal, there are no two ways about it.”

Kiessling admitted replays left him him cringing. “My immediate thought was that the ball didn’t go in,” the 29-year-old Germany striker said.

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