Bayern Munich & Harry Kane Accused of ‘Preferential Treatment’ as Werder Bremen Fume Over Referee Decisions

Bayern Munich might have cruised to a 4-0 win over Werder Bremen on Friday night, but the Bundesliga champions’ latest victory was not without its share of controversy. Bremen boss Horst Steffen suggested that Bayern and their star striker Harry Kane benefited from “fortunate” refereeing decisions that shifted the momentum at key moments in the match — sparking yet another debate about whether Bayern get preferential treatment in Germany.

The result kept Vincent Kompany’s side perfect to start the season, but the post-match discussion was dominated by officiating rather than Bayern’s free-flowing football.

Bayern Munich Win Overshadowed by Controversy

Bayern got off to a fast start in front of their home fans, but Bremen felt hard done by even before the first goal went in. Jonathan Tah opened the scoring from a corner in the 21st minute — a set piece that Bremen players believed should never have been awarded. In the build-up, Michael Olise appeared to push Felix Agu, sending the Bremen defender off balance. The referee allowed play to continue and, moments later, pointed to the corner flag.

Bremen’s frustration deepened shortly before halftime when Bayern were awarded a penalty after Harry Kane went down in the box under minimal contact. The England captain stepped up and confidently converted, doubling Bayern’s lead and effectively killing off any hope the visitors had of mounting a comeback.

From there, Bayern went on to score twice more, securing a 4-0 win that looked comfortable on paper — but to Steffen and his players, it felt like the game’s biggest moments had been influenced by decisions that went against them.

Werder Bremen Boss Slams Refereeing

In his post-match press conference, Horst Steffen was careful not to cross the line, but he made it clear he was unhappy with what he saw from the officials.

“If you want to take something home from Munich, you need a bit of luck on all levels,” Steffen said. “And before the first two goals, there were referee decisions that, in my opinion, weren’t entirely fortunate.”

When pressed about the penalty incident, Steffen was diplomatic but firm: “Harry is playing it cleverly, of course. But my feeling is that you shouldn’t give the penalty.”

The Bremen boss stopped short of accusing Bayern of outright favoritism but his message was clear: in order to compete with Germany’s most dominant club, his side needs refereeing decisions to be completely fair — and he felt they were not on Friday.

Marco Friedl Backs His Coach

Bremen captain Marco Friedl also voiced his displeasure, particularly over the incident that led to Bayern’s opening goal. “For me, it’s a clear foul from Olise,” Friedl told reporters. “If that’s given, we can reset, maybe clear our heads and defend the next situation.”

At the same time, Friedl was honest about the overall result. “Let’s be real — Bayern were the better team tonight. Even without those moments, it would have been very difficult to get anything here,” he admitted. “But decisions like that hurt, because against a side like Bayern, you need everything to go perfectly to have a chance.”

That combination of accepting Bayern’s superiority while still lamenting officiating calls is a familiar theme whenever a mid-table side leaves the Allianz Arena empty-handed.

Debate Over Bayern’s ‘Preferential Treatment’

Horst Steffen munich

Steffen’s comments, and Friedl’s backing, have added fresh fuel to a long-running debate within German football. Do Bayern Munich get the rub of the green when it comes to refereeing calls?

German outlet Sport noted after the match that this was not the first time Bayern have benefited from marginal decisions this season. Critics argue that referees, perhaps subconsciously, are more hesitant to make calls that could go against the defending champions in front of their home crowd.

On the other hand, Bayern supporters will point out that dominant teams spend more time attacking and naturally draw more fouls and penalties. They argue that there is no conspiracy — just the reality of facing a side that spends 70% of the game camped in your half.

Harry Kane’s Role in the Controversy

Kane

Harry Kane, who has been nothing short of spectacular since arriving in Munich, was again in the spotlight. His clever movement and ability to draw contact led to the penalty that put Bayern two goals ahead.

Even Steffen admitted that Kane had played the situation well, which is hardly a surprise given the England striker’s reputation for using his body smartly in the box.

Kane’s clinical finish from the spot took his tally to five goals in as many league matches this season, further justifying Bayern’s massive investment in bringing him from Tottenham last year.

Bayern’s Perfect Start Continues

Despite the noise around the officiating, the result means Bayern remain unbeaten and firmly on track in their pursuit of yet another Bundesliga title. Vincent Kompany’s men have shown no signs of slowing down since the new season began, combining defensive stability with devastating attacking firepower.

Jonathan Tah’s opener was his first goal since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, a reminder of how quickly he has settled into Bayern’s system. Michael Olise, too, was influential, continuing to prove that he can thrive on the biggest stage after his move from Crystal Palace.

The Bigger Picture for Werder Bremen

For Werder Bremen, the defeat is a setback but not a disaster. They remain comfortably mid-table and will likely target winnable fixtures in the coming weeks to get back on track. Steffen will no doubt use this performance to highlight the importance of concentration and resilience, reminding his players that against teams like Bayern, every small detail matters.

Preferential Treatment Debate Will Rage On

Whether or not Bayern Munich and Harry Kane truly benefit from “preferential treatment” is unlikely to be settled anytime soon. What is certain is that refereeing decisions will continue to be scrutinised whenever the champions are involved in a big game — especially when those decisions coincide with goals that swing the outcome.

For now, Bayern march on, perfect and seemingly untouchable. For the rest of the Bundesliga, the task remains the same as it has been for more than a decade: find a way to stop them, with or without the referee’s whistle going your way.