Klopp defends Germany goal scored with Brobbey down injured

Felix Nmecha scored while Brian Brobbey was down injured in the Netherlands’ 1–1 draw with Germany on 24 September 2026, prompting Dutch criticism and a defence of the decision to play on from Germany coach Jürgen Klopp. [1] [2]

Brobbey went down around the half-hour mark without direct contact from an opponent. Dutch players wanted play stopped, but referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández allowed it to continue. Joshua Kimmich passed to Philipp Treu, whose cross from the right was converted by Nmecha. [1] [2]

At the post-match press conference, Klopp defended the goal as legitimate and said he had no guilty conscience, as reported in Martin Armbruster’s ntv commentary published on 25 September. Klopp added that he would have felt guilty had the goal not been legitimate, although he would still have accepted it. [2]

Germany captain Kimmich said he had heard no whistle and therefore considered it entirely correct to carry on, ntv reported. [2]

Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo took the opposite view in a post-match NOS interview reproduced by FCUpdate on 24 September. He called Germany’s decision unsporting and said it had raised tensions on the pitch. While saying there was no rule requiring players to stop in that situation, he argued that stopping for an injured player was normal sporting behaviour. [1]

Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk also condemned the goal as a disgrace and said Germany should have put the ball out while Brobbey was injured, ntv reported. Gakpo eventually scored in stoppage time to secure the draw. [1] [2]