German Referee files criminal complaint after penalty threats!

The German referee who admitted having made a mistake in Borussia Dortmund’s 1-1 draw in Bochum on Friday at the start of the 30th day of the German football championship filed a complaint after receiving threats targeting him as well than his family. German referee Sasha Stegmann filed a complaint with the local authorities after receiving threats targeting him and his family for not awarding a penalty kick to Borussia Dortmund during their 1-1 draw with Bochum last Friday, in the opening of the thirtieth stage of the Bundesliga. And local media reported that referee Stegmann, who admitted a serious mistake in not awarding a penalty kick to Borussia Dortmund, was placed under judicial protection. German media report that Sascha Stegemann has been placed under judicial protection. Guest of the television program “Doppelpon” Sunday, the referee explained that he had no choice but to file a complaint. The referee had admitted the day before, after viewing the images of the match, having made a bad decision by not whistling a penalty in favor of Borussia Dortmund, who lost their place as leader of the Bundesliga in favor of Bayern Munich, winners Sunday from Hertha Berlin (2-0). “I fully understand the emotions surrounding what happened on Friday night. But my family and I received very specific threats and after seeing them I filed a criminal complaint“, he said. Stegemann added that he wondered about the advisability of “to make a break» and to get away from the lawns for a while. In a statement released on Saturday, the German federation said the TV images showed that Stegemann should have awarded a penalty to Borussia after a foul on striker Karim Adeyemi in the Bochum penalty area. Stegemann, in an interview granted on Saturday to the daily Pictureadmitted his mistake and regretted that the video referee in charge of the VAR did not suggest that he go and consult the images. BVB, who were one point ahead of Bayern at the start of the 30th day, are now second, two points behind the Munich club. There are four days left until the end of the season. Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke stressed on Sunday that “threats and animosity would not be tolerated“. The German Federation's referees committee agreed with Stegmann's assessment, and said, "The television scenes prove that the obstruction was a mistake and a penalty kick," adding, "The defender threw himself from behind to the side with both legs and did not pursue the ball." In reaction to the threats to the referee, Dortmund President Hans-Joachim Watzke stressed that "threats and hostilities will not be tolerated."