Transfer Scandal: Harry Kane Misses Penalty Due to Damaged Spot
Harry Kane's missed penalty in the match against Wolfsburg has an unexpected explanation — replays showed that home player Joakim Mæhle deliberately damaged the turf at the penalty spot, causing the striker to slip and shoot wide.
Main Event
Saturday's 33rd-round Bundesliga match between Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich turned into one of the most talked-about scandals of the season. The central episode of the game, held on May 9 at the Volkswagen Arena, was Harry Kane's penalty miss — the first for the English striker in the Bundesliga in his entire career.
In the 36th minute, after a foul by Konstantinos Koulierakis on Michael Olise, the referee awarded a penalty to the visitors. Kane, who had converted all 24 penalties in the German top flight since joining Bayern, stepped up to the spot but shot wide.
Replays shown by Sky Sports during halftime revealed an unexpected background to the miss. Cameras captured Wolfsburg defender Joakim Mæhle deliberately stomping on the penalty spot while waiting for the VAR decision, tearing up the turf with his studs. At the moment of the kick, Kane slipped on the damaged area and shot over the bar.
Details and Statistics
Before Saturday's match, Kane's penalty record in the Bundesliga was flawless: 24 attempts — 24 goals, including 10 this season. Kane himself, commenting on the incident in the mixed zone, confirmed that the damaged turf caused the failure: "A penalty is not the time to take risks. I stepped up, planted my foot, and it just slid into a hole. It happens, but when it's done deliberately, that's beyond the pale."
Lothar Matthäus, working as an analyst for Sky, was categorical in his assessment: "If the referee doesn't see it anyway... He stands a bit apart from the others. Everyone waits for VAR. And in the meantime, he makes another hole. Kane slips and immediately looks back — he realized something was wrong."
The incident sparked strong reactions from both teams. Wolfsburg midfielder Patrick Wimmer called it "a little dirty trick you sometimes have to resort to when you're at the bottom." Bayern's 20-year-old midfielder Tom Bischof was harsher: "I know Wolfsburg are fighting for survival, but this action was excessive. Fair play should always apply, even when the stakes are high."
Wolfsburg head coach Dieter Hecking reacted with clear irritation: "If that's the moment they want to show... Harry Kane missed a penalty for the first time today, and for a change, it will do him good."
Vincent Kompany, Bayern's manager, took a diplomatic stance: "What do you expect from them? That they applaud after our goal? Should they just get relegated without giving everything? Of course, the Wolfsburg player shouldn't have done that. But I can understand it."
Despite the scandal, Bayern managed to secure a win — in the 56th minute, Michael Olise cut in from the right flank and curled a magnificent shot into the top corner of Kamil Grabara's goal. The ball hit the crossbar and crossed the line. The goal gave the champions a 1-0 victory and three points.
Context and Significance
Kane's miss will go down in Bundesliga history not only as the end of a unique streak. It raises a systemic question about the boundaries of acceptable conduct on the pitch. Mæhle did not break any formal rules — the referee did not spot the incident, VAR does not intervene in such situations, and the regulations do not provide for punishment for deliberately damaging the turf near the spot.
Former Bundesliga referee Knut Kircher explained on German television: "The rules describe the penalty procedure in detail but say nothing about what happens to the turf before the whistle. It's a gray area that IFAB will probably have to close after this uproar."
For Wolfsburg, locked in a desperate battle for survival, the scandal carries serious risks. The German Football Association (DFB) has already announced an investigation into Mæhle's behavior. If the player's actions are deemed unsportsmanlike, he faces suspension for the decisive match of the season.
For Kane himself, the incident was a heavy psychological ordeal. Kane's Bayern and England teammate Tom Bischof noted: "Harry was furious. He told me that in ten years of his career, he had never encountered such targeted interference. It violates the basic respect between players."
Bookmakers reacted immediately. Before the incident, the odds on "Kane to score the penalty — yes" stood at 1.10, reflecting his flawless record. After Saturday, some bookmakers began accepting bets on "DFB investigation ends with Mæhle suspension" at odds of 1.85.
What's Next / Preview
Wolfsburg will play their final Bundesliga match on Saturday, May 16, away against St. Pauli. Both teams have 26 points and occupy 16th and 17th place respectively. The winner of this match will retain their top-flight status or at least reach the relegation play-offs; the loser will likely be relegated directly.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that if the DFB reaches a decision on Mæhle before the weekend, Wolfsburg could lose a key defender ahead of the crucial game. The coaching staff, led by Hecking, is already working on alternative options in central defense.
Bayern, for whom the match against Wolfsburg had no tournament significance after securing the championship, will end the season with a home game against Cologne. After the final whistle, a ceremony will be held to award Vincent Kompany's team the Bundesliga gold medals.
The episode with the damaged spot is guaranteed to become one of the most discussed moments of the season in German football and could lead to changes in the rules governing player behavior during set pieces. IFAB, according to German media, will review the incident at its next meeting.
— Editorial Team
