The Incident: Sunday, December 14, 2025
The red card incident occurred in the 53rd minute of the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg, which ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Error: The entire chain of events was triggered by a risky, short pass from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who misjudged the situation while playing the ball out from the back.
The Foul: The poor pass put Jobe Bellingham under immediate pressure. As Freiburg's Philipp Treu charged through on goal, Bellingham, who was the last man, committed a professional foul to bring him down.
The Decision: Referee Felix Zwayer brandished a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO), which the German Football Federation (DFB) Sports Court later officially categorized as "unsporting behavior."
Goalkeeper Kobel and Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl were quick to publicly defend Bellingham, with Kobel taking full responsibility for the poor pass that created the situation.
The Two Matches Jobe Bellingham Will Miss
The two-game suspension is a major setback for the 20-year-old, who has been working hard to cement his place in the starting XI.
He will miss the following crucial fixtures:
Date,Competition,Opponent,Importance
"Fri, Dec 19",Bundesliga (H),Borussia Mönchengladbach,"This is Dortmund's final match before the winter break, a crucial game for their positioning."
"Thu, Jan 9",Bundesliga (A),Eintracht Frankfurt,The first match back after the winter break and a tough away fixture against a European-contending side.
Bellingham will be eligible to return to the squad for Dortmund's following Bundesliga fixture after January 9th. The suspension marks the first Bundesliga game the young midfielder will miss since joining the club from Sunderland.
Would you like an update on Borussia Dortmund's position in the Bundesliga table after that draw?