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Referee sorry for giving Bayern Munich penalty after Arturo Vidal dive

By PA Sport

Wednesday 20 April 2016 16:35, UK

Arturo Vidal is challenged by Janek Sternberg of Bremen in the penalty box during the DFB Cup semi final match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Werder Bremen
Image: Arturo Vidal is challenged by Janek Sternberg of Werder Bremen

The referee who awarded Bayern Munich a penalty in their DFB-Pokal semi-final win over Werder Bremen following a dive from Arturo Vidal has apologised.

The Chile international threw himself to the ground after a challenge from Janek Sternberg, who appeared to make no contact with the Bayern midfielder.

Thomas Muller scored the resulting penalty, his second goal of the game in a 2-0 home win on Tuesday night.

Vidal has come in for fierce criticism in the German press and on social media for his action. And referee Tobias Stieler has taken the unusual step of speaking out after the incident.

"It happened so quickly and I was in a good position," he told Kicker. "I saw contact, but there wasn't any. I'm sorry."

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Muller all admitted it was a wrong decision.

Thomas Mueller of Muenchen scores his teams second goal during the DFB Cup semi final match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Werder Bremen at Allianz Arena
Image: Thomas Muller scores Bayern Munich's second goal during the DFB Cup semi-final match

"It wasn't a penalty," Guardiola told Bayern's official website.

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"The ref doesn't have to give that. There's nothing to debate," said Rummenigge.

And Muller followed suit, adding: "It was close to a foul, but it wasn't a foul."

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