Kimmich's choice not to put ball Aus fuels Fairplay in Amsterdam
In the 32nd minute at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Brian Brobbey collapsed, prompting the Dutch players to pause. The German side, led by captain Joshua Kimmich, kept the ball in play, refusing to put the ball Aus, a decision that ignited a Fairplay outcry from the opposing Spielern.
Instead of returning the ball, Kimmich delivered a precise pass to Felix Nmecha, who slotted the ball home to give Deutschland a 1‑0 Führung. The goal sparked immediate protests from the Netherlands squad, who argued that sportsmanship demanded the ball be played out of danger.
Rulebook and the right to stop play
The Laws of the Game state that only the referee may suspend play, and only when a serious injury is suspected. No rule obliges a team to put the ball Aus simply because an opponent lies on the ground, meaning Germany’s action was within the regulations.
Moral expectations and historic precedents
Nevertheless, returning the ball when a player is down is widely regarded as fair conduct. UEFA warned against such tactics before Euro 2008, and the Italian federation issued similar guidance. In 1999, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger saw his FA‑Cup side breach this norm and successfully lobbied for a replay, saying, “The only way to make up the situation was to replay the match.”
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German clubs have faced similar criticism. In the 2016 Bundesliga clash between 1. FC Köln and TSG Hoffenheim, Kevin Volland scored in stoppage time while a Köln player lay prone, and Hoffenheim did not put the ball Aus. Köln’s sporting director Jörg Schmadtke reacted by tossing a piece of gum toward the Hoffenheim bench.
Coach Peter Stöger later declared, “I will tell my boys and the opponents not to put the ball out any more. Then the Fairplay category disappears and the referee must intervene.” The statement underlines the frustration that players sometimes take the referee’s role into their own hands.
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Kimmich later addressed the incident after Germany’s 1‑1 Nations League draw with the Netherlands, saying the team acted within the rules and focused on performance. The episode highlights a lingering tension between the letter of the law and the spirit of Fairplay, a debate that continues to shape how Spieler and officials approach the game.