Bayern Munich have issued a response after their star winger Michael Olise appeared to make an X-rated gesture towards Mainz fans during their German Cup clash on Wednesday.
Bayern picked up a 4-0 win in the second round of the DFB-Pokal with Jamal Musiala netting a hat-trick, but it was not a completely straightforward night for Vincent Kompany’s men.
Bayern’s players were on the wrong end of some rough treatment in a physical match, while Mainz were left furious as they felt one of Musiala’s goals was offside, leading to a hostile atmosphere inside the stadium.
Olise was an unused substitute, but still had some involvement on the night as a video has emerged of him walking by the side of the pitch in front of the Mainz supporters before turning around and appearing to stick his middle finger up at them.
German outlet Bild reached out to Bayern for their reaction to the incident, as the Bundesliga giants denied that Olise’s gesture was ‘offensive’.
Bayern Munich have issued a response after Michael Olise appeared to direct an X-rated gesture at Mainz fans during the two side’s ill-tempered clash on Wednesday night
Footage has emerged of Olise appearing to give the middle finger to the Mainz supporters
Bayern explained: ‘He [Olise] was provoked and had beer thrown at him. He then reacted with a gesture, but it was not offensive.’
With Olise off the pitch at the time, the incident was not picked up by the match officials.
It remains to be seen whether the French international could face any retrospective punishment for his actions.
Olise’s gesture was far from the only controversial incident in Wednesday’s game, as Harry Kane also took centre stage following a collision with Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner.
Kane failed to get on the scoresheet, and in his search for a goal he collided Mainz’s Zentner which resulted in the goalkeeper needing treatment on the pitch.
Harry Kane collided with Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner during Bayern Munich’s 4-0 win
Zentner needed treatment and hit out at the England star for not pulling out of the challenge
Speaking after the match, a furious Zentner insisted that the situation was avoidable and that Kane should have pulled out of the challenge.
According to Bild, he said: ‘I think you can blame him. He sees relatively early on that he can’t get to the ball. He might as well just stay away.’