Leipzig's Anger Over Referee - 'Not Worthy of the Game'

, and ASMedia

2025 December 21 . 9:29 AM

1 min read

There is a white color ball at the bottom of this image. There are three persons playing football... — There is a white color ball at the bottom of this image. There are three persons playing football on the ground as we can see in the middle of this image, and there is a fencing in the background. There is a poster at the top of this image.

Leipzig's Anger Over Referee - 'Not Worthy of the Game' - Leipzig's Anger Over Referee - 'Not Worthy of the Game'

RB Leipzig’s 1:3 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen has sparked controversy over refereeing decisions. The team’s frustration centred on two key calls by official Benjamin Brand. Coach Ole Werner and players publicly criticised the match officiating after the final whistle.

The tension began in stoppage time when RB Leipzig appealed for a handball against Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich. The midfielder had blocked the ball with his outstretched arm, but he later claimed he lost control after being undercut by Willi Orban. Referee Brand waved away the penalty claims, denying Leipzig a chance to level the score.

After the match, Leipzig coach Ole Werner argued that two pivotal decisions had gone against his side. He suggested both calls were incorrect and had heavily influenced the outcome. Left-back David Raum went further, describing Brand as 'not worthy of the game' and 'out of his depth' in his post-match comments. The defeat leaves Leipzig with no recourse beyond public criticism. No further details were available regarding Brand’s role with the DFB-Vereinigung der Schiedsrichter during the 2022/2023 season.

Leipzig’s loss to Leverkusen now stands, with no official review of the disputed decisions announced. The club’s complaints highlight ongoing debates about consistency in refereeing. For now, the result remains unchanged, and Leverkusen take all three points.