Scandal penalty! Wolfsburg and Frankfurt draw 1-1

Scandal penalty! Wolfsburg and Frankfurt draw 1-1

The Bundesliga game between VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt ended in a 1-1 draw on November 30, 2025. After a difficult phase in which Wolfsburg suffered three defeats in a row, the team was able to at least get a point. Aaron Zehnter gave Wolfsburg the lead with his goal in the 67th minute, but a controversial penalty in stoppage time caused an upset.

In the 90th + 6th minute, Michy Batshuayi converted the penalty and equalized for Frankfurt. This decision caused a lot of conversation. Wolfsburg captain Maximilian Arnold was visibly irritated by the referee's decisions and the role of the video assistant (VAR). “That was cheap,” said Christian Eriksen, who watched the event with disbelief. In the end, the draw was of little help to both teams in the relegation battle, as it did not help either team pick up the much-needed points.

Controversial penalty decision

The penalty for Frankfurt resulted from a foul by Denis Vavro on Arthur Theate. The referee Harm Osmers justified the decision and referred to the intervention of the VAR, which has been causing controversy in the Bundesliga for some time and is difficult for many fans and players to understand. Interim coach Daniel Bauer was also disappointed with the decision and the subsequent execution, which ultimately helped Frankfurt gain a point for no immediate reason.

Before the game, there were also protests by fans against planned security measures, which didn't exactly ease the already tense atmosphere in the stadium. Would the VAR provide clearer explanations in the future? From the next match day onwards, referees will be expected to explain their decisions publicly in the stadium, which could increase transparency. It looks like this trial will start with a test phase in selected stadiums, including Eintracht Frankfurt, to improve dialogue between players, spectators and officials. However, it remains to be seen how the implementation will be received by active referees.

Fight to stay in the league

The situation for Eintracht Frankfurt was not easy as they had to do without their top scorer Jonathan Burkardt, who is out until the end of the year. Instead of Burkardt, Ansgar Knauff played up front and tried to keep the pressure on the Wolfsburg defense. Mario Götze had the best chance for Frankfurt in the first half, but narrowly failed.

Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura was also unable to assert himself in this game, despite missing a great opportunity in the first half. Goalkeeper Michael Zetterer from Frankfurt was strong and saved several shots, which brought an additional dose of frustration to Wolfsburg.

The coming weekend will be exciting again when Wolfsburg has to play against Union Berlin and Frankfurt has to deal with RB Leipzig. Given their performances so far, it is clear that both teams need more than one point to gain breathing room in the relegation battle and avert the impending danger.