Baumgart faces DFB investigation after middle-finger gesture

1. FC Union Berlin coach Steffen Baumgart has landed in hot water after giving the middle finger during Sunday’s 4-3 Bundesliga win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

The disciplinary committee of the German Football Association (DFB) has launched an investigation into the incident and has requested a written statement from the coach.

Baumgart was captured by cameras making the middle-finger gesture after Eintracht Frankfurt scored a penalty to make it 3-4 near the end of the game. However, he downplayed the incident after the match.

“I was looking into empty space; it wasn’t directed at anyone, so everything’s fine. It was an emotional reaction I had due to the video evidence and the situation beforehand,” he said.

Baumgart was shown a red card toward the end of the game, but not for the middle-finger gesture. The DFB confirmed to SID that it was for throwing a paper ball onto the pitch.