Hertha BSC: Fiél about controversial handball and painful defeat

Hertha BSC: Fiél about controversial handball and painful defeat

Darmstadt, Deutschland - In a dramatic football game, Hertha BSc experienced a bitter disappointment at SV Darmstadt 98. After a 1: 3 defeat, coach Christian Fiél was visibly frustrated, especially because of a disputed referee decision that the team brought about the possible lead goal. In the 51st minute, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson seemed to transport the ball to 2-1 for the Berliners, but the referee Patrick Alt decided on handball - a decision that raised many questions. "Where, please, should this handball be?" asked Fiél at a loss.

The controversy about the referee decision was taken up by Manuel Gräfe, a former FIFA referee. On his X account, he expressed that the video assistant should only intervene in the event of clear errors and in this case no clear evidence of a handball. "Not here!" made Gräfe clear. Despite all the technical aids, the decision remained controversial, and the TV pictures could not demonstrate a clear handball.

Hertha fights against personnel bottlenecks

The defeat was particularly bitter for Hertha, who had to deal with massive personnel problems. Coach Fiél had to improvise and set up a chain of three with trained full -back. "I have never experienced it that way," complained center forward Florian Niederlechner. In the first half, Hertha dominated the game and hardly let Darmstadt develop. But an unfortunate free kick before the break led to 1-1 equalization for Darmstadt, which significantly impaired Berlin morality.

After half -time, the Situation for Hertha became even more complicated. Darmstadt scored the 2-1, and the Berlin defense showed weaknesses that finally led to 3: 1. Goalkeeper Tjark Ernst could not convince both goals. "This is bitter," summed up Fiél after the second defeat in a row, which Hertha cost contact with the promotion places. "We drive home without points."