DFB investigates Demirbay – fans would find a penalty justified

The German Football Association (DFB) has opened disciplinary proceedings against Bayer Leverkusen's Kerem Demirbay. The 28-year-old professional made disrespectful comments to referee Dr. Felix Brych at the “ARD“ microphone after Sunday's match against VfL Wolfsburg. The central midfielder received his 10th yellow card of the season after a scuffle, a decision he did not entirely agree with. The DFB's control committee is now dealing with the matter. FanQ subsequently asked football fans in Germany whether the Leverkusen player should receive a punishment.

Demirbay with disparaging remarks against referee Brych

Bayer Leverkusen centre midfielder Kerem Demirbay is facing a penalty. There was a scuffle in the 82nd minute of the 2-0 away win in Wolfsburg, and the 28-year-old was right in the middle of it. After the brief interruption, triggered by a foul by Vranckx on Hincapie, referee Dr Felix Brych looked for the main culprits from his point of view. In addition to Vranckx and Hincapie, Maxence Lacroix and Kerem Demirbay also received a yellow card. However, this did not suit the former German international at all, as was easily recognisable from the ARD microphone. “The referee is so annoying. That's madness. I hope he doesn't whistle for us so often in future.“ According to his own statement, the left-footer merely tried to settle the dispute. „I just try to keep the lads apart, really. That's all I did. Then Maxi Arnold comes and says: “Kerem, that's good, everything's easy, you did well„‚. Nevertheless, the former Hoffenheim player, who received his second yellow card of the season, is facing a longer break than just one game. As the DFB announced on Monday, ‘preliminary proceedings have been initiated against Kerem Demirbay of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen due to his statements about referee Felix Brych.“

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The Leverkusen player was asked to make a statement before the responsible control committee decides on further action. FanQ then asked football fans in Germany whether the Leverkusen professional should be fined. For a majority of 46.0% of fans, a punishment would be fair according to these statements. However, 34.5% of the respondents disagree and believe a punishment would be unjustified. Demirbay would not be the first player in the recent past to be penalised for making a disrespectful comment to a referee. At the beginning of December, Dortmund's Jude Bellingham said of referee Felix Zwayer after the match against FC Bayern Munich: „You give the biggest game in Germany to a referee who has refereed games before. What do you expect?“ However, the 18-year-old was only fined 40,000 euros by the DFB after the „unsportsmanlike behaviour“, the association did not impose a ban on the professional. It is unclear whether Kerem Demirbay will face a similar penalty. What is certain, however, is that he will miss next week's game against Hertha BSC after receiving his 10th yellow card.