Wolfsburg relegated: Hecking hits out at referee Zwayer
Following their historic relegation, VfL Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking expressed his frustration with referee Felix Zwayer's decisions in the defeat against Paderborn.
VfL Wolfsburg have suffered the bitterest day in their history, facing relegation from the top flight for the first time in 29 years. The 2-1 extra-time loss to Paderborn left the dressing room in tears, with visible damage to a door marking the frustration of the occasion.
Manager Dieter Hecking was vocal in his criticism of referee Felix Zwayer, specifically pointing to the 14th-minute dismissal of Joakim Maehle. While Hecking admitted the second yellow card was deserved, he argued that the first booking lacked necessary tact and that the referee failed to penalize earlier fouls on his player.
It all comes down to a single moment: whether you stay up or go down. Then the game took a turn we didn't want. Dieter Hecking
Hecking claimed that Maehle was tackled repeatedly without intervention, suggesting that if such incidents are not called as fouls, the competition becomes difficult to accept. Despite his frustration, he credited Paderborn for their performance in the match.
Supervisory board member Diego Benaglio stated that the club must process the disappointment before determining the next steps. Hecking declined to discuss his own future immediately, stating that the staff and players need a few days to digest the historic relegation before making any decisions.