Referee admits Luis Díaz red card was a mistake in Bayern Munich’s shocking draw to Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern Munich were forced to finish Saturday’s top-table clash at Bayer Leverkusen with nine men after referee Christian Dingert showed Luis Díaz a second yellow card for an alleged dive, a decision the official now concedes was wrong. Speaking after the 1-1 final whistle, Dingert told reporters via @iMiaSanMia: “During the game, I perceived the incident as him diving. That’s what I saw. Looking at the footage now, it’s clear it wasn’t a penalty. But a red card was very harsh; I wouldn’t give that now.”

The admission offers little consolation to the league leaders, who played the last 20 minutes two men short and ultimately saw their cushion atop the Bundesliga table trimmed to nine points over Borussia Dortmund. Leverkusen pressed their numerical advantage but could not convert the sustained pressure into a winner.

Dingert’s mea culpa has reignited debate over VAR protocols: because second yellow cards are not reviewable under current regulations, the video officials were powerless to intervene. Critics argue the restriction undermines the technology’s purpose and point to sports such as cricket and rugby, where broader review powers are standard. Had VAR been permitted to examine the play, Bayern might have retained eleven players and, potentially, full points.

The draw leaves Bayern nine points clear with several matchdays remaining, yet the officiating controversy will dominate discussion until the next round. As for squad reinforcements, any move for Nick Woltemade appears unlikely before the summer window.