Thread.
1/ Interesting analysis from @CollinasErben of Wamangituka goal & consultation with DFB’s Lutz Wagner.
- Ref Frank Willenborg was not at liberty to show yellow for lack of sportsmanship & didn’t. (Didn’t meet criteria.)
- Did show yellow to take heat out of situation.

2/ Wagner tells @CollinasErben in piece for NTV that it might have been different had he fallen to the ground before touching it in, or kneeled down before heading it in. That would have been deemed provocative and goal annulled with yellow card & indirect FK.

3/ In technical terms, the yellow for Wamangituka wasn’t justifiable. His celebration was passive, not provocative. So Willenborg having allowed the goal, by the letter of the law, stretched things a bit to caution him here.

4/ But refs have responsibility to manage game, & this was his ad hoc solution knowing Selke was up in arms about the “disrespect” & sensed trouble brewing, hence this pragmatic solution. Must admit, I learned something new. Always learning when it comes to fine interpretations.

5/ Tried to take heat out of it by booking Wamangituka as well as Selke even though only Selke’s actions were strictly bookable. But technically speaking, Wamangituka was not booked for the goal itself & if he had been, the goal would have been annulled out of necessity.