Monday, 18th November, 2013
Hoffenheim director of football Alexander Rosen has backed "ghost goal" referee Felix Brych for a World Cup berth despite the bizarre events from October.
Brych awarded Bayer Leverkusen's Stefan Kiessling a goal in their 18th October clash, but replays showed the header had gone in through a hole in the Hoffenheim side netting.
Hoffenheim lost the game 2-1 and also lost their subsequent fight to engineer a replay despite the obvious refereeing error.
Hoffenheim have just three wins out of 12 league games this season, but Rosen is learning to forgive and forget, especially when it comes to referees.
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When asked if Brych deserved a spot in Brazil 2014, Rosen told Bild: "He should go to the World Cup. He is one of our best.
"He has proved it in a special way in that three days after that match he refereed Milan's match against Barcelona in the Champions League.
"I spoke with him for an hour after the end of the [Leverkusen] game. He seemed very taken aback. I told him that we will push for a replay, but I also told him that we will not attack him in public."
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