Wolfsburg has been disqualified from the German Cup after using too many substitutions against fourth division outfit Preussen Munster, the German FA sports court announced.
Munster appealed against its 3-1 extra-time loss to Wolfsburg and was declared the winner of the first-round clash. On Monday, the sports court ruled the encounter as a 2-0 win for Preussen.
“The clubs are responsible for their substitutions. One of their basic duties is to inform about the substitution options and to act accordingly,” vice-chairman of the German FA sports court Stephan Oberholz said. “Wolfsburg violated this duty and thus recklessly, and evitable, committed a major mistake with its illegal sixth substitution,” Oberholz said.
The ‘Wolves’ now have 24 hours to appeal against the decision of the sports court and will do so, reports .
“We are disappointed and would have preferred a different outcome to the trial. We disagree with the verdict and will now examine legal remedies,” Wolfsburg’s CEO Tim Schumacher said.
“We know that ruling a game differently from how it ended on the pitch is a bitter decision,” Oberholz added.
The fixtures of the German Cup’s second round will be drawn on August 29.