Bayern Munich could face match forfeit after fielding 12 players

Simon Lloyd

Bayern eased to a 4-1 win, but could now be stripped of the points after the error

Bayern Munich could be made to forfeit their game against SC Freiburg on Saturday after a botched substitution saw Julian Nagelsmann’s side field 12 players for a matter of seconds towards the end of the match.

With around 10 minutes of the Bundesliga game remaining, Bayern, who were leading 3-1, sent on Niklas Sule and Marcel Sabitzer to help close out the game.

But instead of Corentin Tolisso and Kingsley Coman coming off in their place, the latter remained on the field for several seconds before Freiburg flagged the error to match officials.

DfB rules show Bayern should forfeit game

Bayern went on to add a fourth goal to round off a 4-1 win, but the incident could see them stripped of the points, with Freiburg given the win instead.

DfB rules cite that such incidents should see the team responsible forfeit the game by a two-goal margin.

‘If a player is not entitled to play or to field a game, the team that culpably fielded this player loses the game 0-2 and the opponent wins 2-0, unless the match has not been restarted by the referee after the player who is ineligible to play has been fielded.’ – DfB Rules, as per Goal.

Bayern are currently in pursuit of their tenth Bundesliga title in succession. They currently sit nine points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who were beaten 4-1 at home by RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Should Bayern be stripped of the three points they appear to have earned at Europa-Park Stadion, however, it may offer a faint glimmer of hope to Marco Rose’s side, who travel to the Allianz Arena later this month.

Hamann insists Bayern must pay for mistake

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who also began his professional career with Bayern, has insisted his old club must be punished for the error.

“It’s a violation of the rules,” Hamann said while covering the game for Sky Sport Germany.

“If one goes onto the field, another has to go off. It doesn’t matter whether they play 20 seconds, twelve or five minutes.

“There is no question in my mind that it must be punished.”