Women's Bundesliga: Bayer 04 appeal against replay

"We are still unhappy with the verdict and we will appeal. From our perspective it was a factual decision. We have the clear position that a factual decision, particularly in the leagues where there is no VAR, must remain intact. And, above all, with decisions that are clearly within the remit of the referee," said Thomas Eichin, director of professional teams, who is also responsible for the Bayer 04 Women's teams: "It can't be the case that things that are said or done after the event are more important in terms of the match result than something that happened on the pitch."

Freiburg originally launched an appeal against the match result (3-2 win for Bayer 04). In mid-September, the sports tribunal ruled by a single judge that the fixture from Matchday 1 had to be replayed. The Werksclub lodged an appeal against this decision, after which the verbal hearing was scheduled.

In the 88th minute of the match on 31 August at the Dreisamstadion, referee Theresa Hug awarded Leverkusen a penalty. Kristin Kögel fired over the bar but the official allowed the spot-kick to be retaken as goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe had moved off her line too early. Kögel converted the second attempt to make it 3-2, the final score.