The ​bizarre incident unfolded during the Bundesliga 2 ​clash between Preussen Muenster and visiting Hertha ⁠Berlin, when referee Felix Bickel was summoned ​to the pitchside monitor only to discover that ​someone had yanked out the power plug.

According to Muenster’s website, a masked supporter had infiltrated the interior and unplugged the VAR monitor, sabotaging the review process. German media reported that at the same time, home ‌fans ⁠displayed a banner reading “Pull the plug on VAR”.

With Bickel unable to view the replay, VAR official Katrin Rafalski in Cologne was forced to make the decision remotely, ruling ⁠that the challenge was indeed a foul, prompting Bickel to award the penalty, which Hertha duly converted.

The Berlin side ​eventually ⁠won the match 2–1 with a stoppage-time goal.

Muenster later said the incident appeared to have been ⁠a ​planned action and that the ​club would do everything in its power to identify those responsible.

-Reuters

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The academy, which will commence operations in Accra in February 2026, is based at Achimota School and has been established in partnership with Accra Shooting Stars FC. It is designed to provide structured football development for boys and girls aged 6 to 18.

In a statement announcing the project, Dortmund described the initiative as a major milestone for youth football development in Ghana and part of the club’s expanding global academy network.

Young players enrolled at the academy will be trained under Borussia Dortmund’s internationally recognised methodology, which emphasises discipline, leadership, education, nutrition and holistic personal development, while remaining aligned with Ghana’s vibrant football culture.

Benedikt Scholz, Director of Internationalisation and Commercial Partnerships and Managing Director of the BVB Football Academy, said the launch reflects the Bundesliga side’s longstanding relationship with Ghana, forged through former players such as Otto Addo and Ibrahim Tanko.

He described the academy as a “strong statement” of intent and noted that the club’s objective is to build sustainable youth development structures in close cooperation with local partners.

Academy Director Teddy Hiadzi explained that the project is inclusive by design, offering pathways for both recreational and elite players.

“Every child’s football journey is different,” Hiadzi said, adding that the academy’s priority is to provide quality coaching, clear developmental structures and a safe environment for growth on and off the pitch.

Former Dortmund midfielder and Black Stars legend Ibrahim Tanko has been appointed ambassador of the BVB International Academy Ghana. He described the academy as a special opportunity for young Ghanaian talents, noting that the country’s passion for football makes it an ideal environment to instil the mindset and discipline required to succeed at the highest level.

The BVB International Academy Ghana will operate as an official member of Dortmund’s global International Academy network, which already includes academies across Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean. Enrolment for the first intake is underway, with information sessions and football camps scheduled in collaboration with local schools.

The launch further strengthens Dortmund’s footprint in Africa and underscores Ghana’s growing reputation as a hub for structured youth football development on the continent.

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Leverkusen finished with 10 players after Álex Grimaldo’s sending off with half an hour to play. New signings Emiliano Buendía and Mario Hermoso made their debuts as Xabi Alonso’s team stayed six points behind Bayern two weeks before the top two clash in Leverkusen.

Bayern defeated Holstein Kiel on Saturday.

Boniface scored with his first shot at goal since his proposed move to Saudi team Al-Nassr collapsed. The Nigeria forward started for his first game since early November after recovering from a thigh injury, and he scored in the 15th minute with a shot that Hoffenheim ’keeper Luca Philipp should arguably have stopped.

Frimpong made it 2-0 four minutes later after Aleix García sent the Dutch wing back through.

Then Robin Braun became the first referee to announce a VAR call to fans in a Bundesliga game when a penalty he awarded to Nathan Tella for a foul by Hoffenheim defender David Jurasek was taken back — video replays showed the Leverkusen attacker was coming from an offside position before he was fouled.

Leverkusen’s match was among five in the 20th round trialling the NFL-style announcements, a change league officials hope will make the much-maligned VAR system more popular among fans.

Buendía went on for the injured Tella to make his Bundesliga debut before the break, and Schick went on for Boniface after it.

Buendía surged through the Hoffenheim defence only to see his shot saved by Philipp, but Schick was there to tuck away the rebound for 3-0 in the 51st. It was the Czech forward’s 14th league goal of the season.

Then Grimaldo was shown red in the 61st when Hoffenheim substitute Gift Orban went on for the visitors. Orban pulled a goal back a minute later.

Buendía made way for Hermoso to compensate for Grimaldo’s sending off. Though tempers flared at times, Leverkusen’s 10 men contained the visitors for the rest of the game.

Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt drew with Wolfsburg 1-1 in the early game.

-AFP

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Boniface returned from injury on Saturday but was on the bench for Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig after German media reports linked him with a transfer to Saudi club Al-Nassr.

He was then left out of training ahead of Leverkusen’s 2-0 Champions League win over Czech side Sparta Prague on Wednesday.

“He will train again tomorrow. I believe he is staying with us,” Alonso told reporters after that win.

“So I have to say that I am satisfied, I am happy. He is comfortable here, so I don’t believe that this is a big stress for him.”

The 24-year-old has scored eight goals in 15 games in all competitions. Last season, he netted 14 goals in 23 league appearances to finish as their top scorer and played a pivotal role in securing Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title.

Boniface staying at Leverkusen could open the doors for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran to join Al-Nassr instead.

The Colombian forward is also a reported target for the Saudi club, who are looking to bolster a frontline that already features Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane.

-Reuters

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If the transfer materialises, Boniface will be a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 24-year-old Boniface returned from injury on Saturday but was on the bench for Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

Before his injury in November, he had scored eight goals in 15 games in all competitions. Last season, he netted 14 goals in 23 league appearances to finish as their top scorer and played a pivotal role in securing Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title.

“The situation with (Boniface) does exist. Negotiations are ongoing with the club, so we have to wait. Our preparation for the match remains the same,” Alonso told reporters ahead of the Champions League clash against Sparta Prague on Wednesday.

“We prepared (for the game) without Boni, of course. We still have to wait a little longer to see (how the situation unfolds),” the Spanish coach added.

“After Jeanu (Belocian) and Martin (Terrier) injuries we already said that we need to be active in the transfer window. Three days remain and we are so close (to a decision).

“I am and I will be happy with the squad (regardless). Until now, all players feel that they are ready and they are an important part of the team.”

Defender Belocian suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of the year and winger Terrier sustained an Achilles tendon rupture last week.

Leverkusen, eighth in the Champions League standings on 13 points, have already booked at least a knockout stage playoff spot while Sparta Prague, with four points from seven games, have been eliminated.

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The Nigeria forward, who has scored six league goals, has been sidelined since November with a thigh muscle injury.

“Yes. He is in the squad,” Alonso told a press conference when asked whether Boniface could start on Saturday. His team will look to bounce back after Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid.

In the league, however, Leverkusen, last season’s domestic league and Cup winners, are enjoying a winning run and are in second place on 41 points, four behind leaders Bayern Munich.

They have won their last eight games in the league to remain Bayern’s main title rivals, with third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt a further five points behind on 36.

“I have always said Bundesliga is the most important competition for us,” Alonso said. “We are on a positive wave and we want to stay on it but it will be a tough game for us tomorrow playing away at Leipzig.”

Leipzig are fifth on 31 points.

The Spaniard also hinted Leverkusen could be active in the January transfer window after injuries to Jeanuel Belocian and Martin Terrier ended both players’ seasons.

“We have to be smart and take a smart decision,” Alonso said. “After two serious injuries we have to be active.

-Reuters

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The 24-year-old Boniface sustained the thigh muscle injury in November after returning from international duty with Nigeria. Before the setback, he had scored eight goals from 15 games in all competitions for Leverkusen this season.

Last term, he netted 14 goals in 23 league appearances to finish as their top scorer and played a pivotal role in securing Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title.

Defender Jeanuel Belocian remains sidelined after his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear last month while forward Amine Adli is still recovering from a fracture and will not feature in the Mainz clash.

“Adli won’t be able to rejoin the team until the end of January at the earliest but Boniface could return next week. He still needs plenty of time to train,” Alonso told reporters on Monday.

Talisman Florian Wirtz, who was left out of the starting line-up and played around 25 minutes in Leverkusen’s 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund last week due to an internal issue, will start against Mainz, Alonso confirmed.

A run of six straight wins has lifted Leverkusen to second in the league standings with 35 points, four behind leaders Bayern Munich. Their form will be tested as Alonso’s side face a busy stretch ahead with five matches in 15 days.

Leverkusen resume their Champions League campaign on Jan. 21 away at Atletico Madrid, and Alonso said his side are eagerly looking forward to it.

“Sometimes it’s even good not to have much time and just keep playing,” Alonso added. “If we don’t give 100% on the pitch tomorrow against Mainz, we’ll face problems (ahead).”

Fifth-place Mainz are also in good form, coming off a streak of three wins, including a 2-1 victory over Bayern in mid-December that handed the Bavarians their first league defeat.

“They’re currently in very strong shape. They play boldly with the ball and with great energy. They have an excellent sense of when to press high and when to sit deeper,” Alonso said.

After Mainz, Leverkusen are set to host Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

-Reuters

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According to a new development, per Transfer News Live, Bayer Leverkusen are edging closer to extending Boniface’s contract.

Boniface has been impressive for Bayer Leverkusen since his €21.7 million transfer from Royale Union SG last year.

Last season, the Super Eagles striker registered 21 goals and 10 assists to help Bayer Leverkusen reach the Europa League final and claim their first-ever Bundesliga title. He could even have scored more goals, but for the thigh injury he sustained at the turn of the year.

Following his impressive campaign with Die Werkself, Boniface was linked with a big move to a top club. However, he opted to remain at Leverkusen.

This season, the 23-year-old striker has produced seven goals and one assist in 13 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen.

Boniface’s current contract is supposed to expire at the end of the 2027/28 season, and there have been talks that Bayer Leverkusen is making moves to extend it.

Although the Super Eagles star is injured, the deal is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. The move shows the high premium the German Champions place on Boniface.

The 38-year-old rushed out of the box in typical fashion 18 minutes into the German Cup last-16 clash, which Leverkusen won 1-0, taking out an advancing Frimpong.

He was shown a straight red, bringing Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz on for his Bayern debut, and was seen apologising to coach Vincent Kompany after leaving the field.

“It was decisive for the game. It hurts us and I’m sorry. I’ve apologised to the team,” Neuer said afterwards, as quoted by Sky Germany.

“I was still hoping for an offside in the situation. I can’t change it now. It was a mistake and I have to accept it. Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

The Bayern captain has seen yellow 23 times during his career. All have come at club level, with the 2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper never cautioned during his 124-game international career for Germany.

Speaking at half-time while acting as a pundit for TV channel ARD, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann called the sending-off “indisputable”, adding: “Understanding space has always been Manu’s strength, but here it might have been better to wait.”

The match, between the 20-time winners and current holders Leverkusen was particularly tense, with referee Harm Osmers handing out three yellow cards in addition to Neuer’s red in the opening 22 minutes.

Despite playing for Israel at international level, the match was Peretz’s first game for Bayern, having joined the club in the summer of 2023.

He conceded when Nathan Tella scored in the 69th minute for the only goal of the game.

Kompany, though, said his team’s energy showed great promise as they still had the better chances in the first half despite being a man down with Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka and Konrad Laimer all missing opportunities.

“Fact is we lost and we won’t win the German Cup this season. But with experience we know this was also a special performance from us,” the Bayern coach said.

“If this feeling remains we will win many games but this Cup we cannot win it any more.”

Kompany is in his first season in charge and his team tops the Bundesliga standings with a four-point advantage over second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern have also improved in the Champions League after a rocky start this season.

“It is bitter for us. We won’t have a good evening,” Kompany added.

“But if this energy remains then we will win many more games. This team can grow further.”

AFP/Reuters

Boniface, playing with a bandaged hand, flicked in a Jeremie Frimpong cutback in the 30th minute to put the champions in the driving seat.

He had missed Wednesday’s Champions League 1-1 draw at Brest after suffering minor hand and foot injuries as a passenger in a car crash on Sunday, a day after he had scored the winner in their victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Boniface, who has now scored six league goals this season, had a chance to add another on the hour but Werder keeper Michael Zetterer pulled off a stunning save.

Instead it was Werder who scored with Marvin Duksch’s powerful header in the 74th to level. Their joy only lasted three minutes as teammate Felix Agu, under pressure, spectacularly miskicked for an own goal.

Werder, however, came back again and Romano Schmid fired in a 90th minute equaliser to snatch a point.

Leverkusen are third on 15 points, two behind second-placed Bayern Munich, in action at VfL Bochum on Sunday. RB Leipzig, 3-1 winners over Freiburg, are in top spot on 20.

-Reuters