Football Championship: DFB sports director sees “no intention” for hair pulling

DFB sports director Nia Künzer defended the braids from international Kathrin Hendrich against France in the European Championship quarter-finals. “She looks in a completely different direction and stays hanging in her hair with her hands. She didn’t reach her hair,” said Künzer one day after the victory in the penalty shootout of the German footballers in Basel. “We definitely want to underline that there is no intention.”

The video evidence exposed the assault. The very experienced central defender had grabbed France’s captain Griedge Mbock Bathy in the hair braid and therefore saw the red card after 13 minutes. The 33 -year -old Hendrich reacted to this with a visible incomprehension, but has not yet commented on it himself.

“It is important to her to tell her that she did not pull on her hair. You can see in the TV recordings that she looks in a completely different direction,” said Künzer. With the ex-Wolfsburg woman there was an exchange immediately: “Of course she was very disappointed, but also glad that the game ended.”

Despite the semi-finals, the European Championship for Hendrich could be over if it is blocked by UEFA for more than one game. Künzer left open whether the DFB would proceed in this case.

The red card hurts very much, said national coach Christian Wück at the press conference after the gripping 6: 5 victory in a penalty shootout, without closer to possible reasons for Hendrich’s dropouts.

“Pulling hair is like if I would scratch someone,” said football expert Kathrin Lehmann on ZDF. “It’s smooth red. And because she was in the sixteen, it is also a penalty.” Grace Geyoro had turned it into 1-0, Sjoeke Nüsken later equalized.

Ex-national coach Martina-Voss-Tecklenburg shared Lehmann’s opinion. “The rule says it. Pulling the hair, the intensity, on purpose: red card. There is no other decision,” said the 57-year-old at the Swiss broadcaster SRF. Hendrich had a “blackout”.

Nobody from the German team of the experienced Hendrich wanted to publicly accuse. “Of course, she was accordingly emotional, but simply happy, overjoyed and grateful that we pulled the game,” said striker Giovanna Hoffmann after the final whistle: “I think it was worst today to be able to sit in the cabin all the time.”

In the semifinals on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in Zurich against Spain, Wück also has to do without midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken (second yellow card) and possibly the injured, replaced full -back Sarai Linder. The regular captain Giulia Gwinn (inner ligament injury) is missing anyway. For this, Gwinn’s nominal replacement – right -back Carlotta Wamser is again operational after a served red bang.