Key Takeaways
- Patrik Schick scored a hat-trick as Bayer Leverkusen thrashed RB Leipzig 4-1 in the Bundesliga.
- The opening goal caused controversy when a ball boy swiftly returned the ball to the goalkeeper, leading to a rapid counter-attack.
- The incident has highlighted confusion over DFL guidance suggesting ball boys should place balls on cones rather than throwing them to players.
Bayer Leverkusen delivered a commanding performance to crush RB Leipzig 4-1, yet the result was overshadowed by a dispute concerning their first goal. Czech forward Patrik Schick celebrated his 100th strike for the club with a superb treble against his old team. However, German publication Kicker chose to investigate the origins of his opening finish.
The move began after Leipzig midfielder Nicolas Seiwald fired wide. A Leverkusen ball boy reacted instantly by throwing the ball directly to goalkeeper Mark Flekken. The Dutchman quickly launched a long pass up the pitch, catching the opposition defence off guard. Nathan Tella and Ibrahima Maza combined to set up Schick, who calmly found the net.
This sequence angered the visiting camp because of new guidance issued by the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL). In mid-August, the league wrote to all 36 clubs in the top two divisions recommending that ball boys place balls on marked plates instead of handing them to players. The DFL stated this measure would help speed up restarts and reduce time-wasting during matches.
RB Leipzig officials strongly criticised the goal. Sporting director Marcel Schäfer and head coach Ole Werner both expressed their frustration during post-match interviews. Werner told Sky that clear rules require consistent application across every stadium. “There is a regulation in place to prevent this difference,” he stated. “If we have the rule, we must enforce it properly.”
Despite his complaints, Werner refused to use the incident as an excuse for the heavy defeat. “I am not accusing anyone,” the coach explained. “Honestly, I find it difficult to focus on this single moment when we have lost 4-1.” Leipzig midfielder Christoph Baumgartner shared this view, insisting the goal was not the deciding factor. “This is not the crucial issue today,” he said. “I do not wish to complain about small details. Otherwise, we would simply be bad losers.”
Leverkusen players saw the situation from a different perspective. Algerian attacker Maza admitted he was unaware of the DFL recommendation but praised the quick restart. “I did not know about the guideline, but it is great,” he commented. “We have seen this approach in other leagues.” Meanwhile, Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand denied instructing the ball boys to act in this manner. Instead, he credited his goalkeeper for the quality of the assist. “We need a keeper who plays long passes,” Hjulmand noted. “That is why Mark Flekken is an outstanding goalkeeper.”
Kicker has clarified that the DFL communication remains a recommendation rather than a compulsory rule. Clubs currently have the freedom to choose how they manage their ball boys during matches.