BERLIN – Germany's soccer federation will consult with FIFA as it investigates a goal that should not have been allowed because it hit the side of the net during Bayer Leverkusen's 2-1 win over Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim lodged an appeal against Friday's Bundesliga result. Stefan Kiessling was awarded a goal by referee Felix Brych in the 70th minute when his header hit the side-netting and rolled into the goal through a hole.
"I didn't really see it, I turned away but I was surprised to see the ball in. I didn't know how it got in," Kiessling said afterward.
The Deutscher Fussball-Bund said in a statement Saturday that it will consult both teams, the referee, its control committee and football's governing body FIFA "to clarify the legal position for such cases internationally."
Hoffenheim wants a replay, as has happened before. In 1994, Thomas Helmer scored a "phantom goal" for Bayern Munich against Nuremberg in a 2-1 win. That game was replayed and Bayern won 5-0 to capture the title.
"We can all perfectly understand that such a 'phantom goal' is unjust," DFB vice president Rainer Koch said. "The immediate call for a replay is understandable but we also know from the past that FIFA is very protective of a referee's decision."
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