Bayern frustration after 3-3 draw with Viking Stavanger: Kompany slams Kabakov's decisions

After the dramatic 3-3 draw against the Norwegian champions Viking Stavanger, deep dissatisfaction over the performance of the Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov prevailed at FC Bayern. Coach Vincent Kompany already before kickoff expressed an uneasy feeling that was confirmed during the match. “I immediately had the feeling before the game that the referee wants to do something special today,” he said on Prime Video.

Controversial decisions during the match

Viking‑captain Zlatko Tripic repeatedly acted as a provocateur, but Kabakov did not blow his whistle. In the 74th minute, Bayern star Michael Olise kicked the ball towards Tripic’s head after a duel, which led to Olise’s dismissal – his first in his career. At that point the score was 2-3, and Bayern had to concede the equaliser while down to ten men.

Referee expert Patrick Ittrich commented on Prime Video that Tripic allowed himself to be provoked and emphasized that an unpunished tactical foul endangers the players. Kompany complained about the lack of balance: “That one phase is Michael, Michael, only Michael.”

Reactions of the Bayern players

Defender Konrad Laimer, who was struck on the neck by Tripic in the 81st minute, criticised Kabakov’s failure to stop the game. “I was on the ground with a head injury and thought that head injuries must be stopped,” Laimer said, adding sarcastically that the referee seemed not to care.

Viking halt Bayern after Michael Olise's red card in Champions League

Laimer had to leave the field, even though he had not received any medical assistance, and Bayern briefly played with nine men. He admitted that he did not know the rule at that moment, and said: “I wasn’t exactly the referee’s biggest friend and I don’t want to talk about him any more.”

Kabakov had already been suspended indefinitely by the Bulgarian association about a year ago for insufficient performance. Despite this national suspension, UEFA appointed him on 23 October for a Europa League duel between Maccabi Tel Aviv and FC Midtjylland and later used him in further European competitions as well as in the Bulgarian championship.

Bayern concede late equaliser a man down against Viking Stavanger

Since 2023 Kabakov has been a FIFA referee, active in the Champions League since 2018, but he has not yet overseen a match involving FC Bayern. In 2021 he refereed three games at the Olympic football tournament in Tokyo, including the semi‑final between Mexico and Brazil.