Olise sent off for first time in his career as Matthäus blasts Bayern star: "That cannot happen"
Michael Olise lost his cool against Viking Stavanger and left Bayern Munich with ten men in a match that ended 3-3. Lothar Matthäus strongly criticized the Frenchman's reaction and reminded him that opponents will always try to knock him out of his game.
Byvarela5 min read
Bayern Munich watched a match they had under control slip away in the 90th minute, and Michael Olise found himself at the center of the fallout. The French winger was sent off in the 74th minute of last Tuesday's friendly against Viking Stavanger, receiving the first red card of his professional career, and his team eventually gave up a 3-3 draw in the closing stages. The incident did not go unnoticed by Lothar Matthäus, a Bayern legend who delivered a blunt public rebuke.
- Michael Olise picked up the first red card of his professional career against Viking Stavanger.
- The French winger threw the ball at Zlatko Tripic's face after being provoked by the Norwegian captain.
- Bayern went down to ten men in the 74th minute and conceded an equalizer in the 90th.
- Lothar Matthäus said Olise "let himself be provoked" and ended up hurting the team.
- The former Germany international ruled out the need for a financial penalty for the attacker.
The Olise red card that changed Bayern's friendly against Viking Stavanger
Everything unraveled for Bayern in a moment that looked far less dangerous than it turned out to be. Zlatko Tripic, the Norwegian side's captain, went looking for a reaction, and Olise gave him exactly what he wanted: he threw the ball straight into his face. The referee had no doubts and showed a straight red card, leaving Bayern a man down for the final 16 minutes of the match.
Up to that point, Bayern had fought back from 2-0 down and looked set to close out the win. The numerical advantage allowed Viking Stavanger to grow into the final stretch and rescue a draw deep into stoppage time. A friendly might carry less weight, but the lesson was clear: the team paid a heavy price for their star's lapse in judgment.
Lothar Matthäus sends a direct warning to the French winger
Matthäus, one of the most respected voices in Bayern's orbit, did not soften his assessment. "That cannot happen. Not even if the referee doesn't see it," he told Bild about the action that led to Olise being dismissed. The former Germany captain admitted that opponents target game-changing players, but he made it clear that falling into the trap is never acceptable.
Of course they try to take a player like that out of the game by any means possible, but Olise let himself be provoked.
The message from the 1990 World Cup winner points to a question of competitive maturity. Olise has more than enough talent to decide matches, but he must learn to live with the constant harassment from opposing defenders. Losing his composure does not just hurt him: it leaves the entire team in a precarious position.
The cost of an avoidable red card for Bayern
Matthäus was especially critical of the collective consequences of the incident. "He didn't just hurt himself. Above all, he hurt the team," the Bayern icon said. The logic is straightforward: Bayern lost one of their most dangerous attacking players just when they needed to see the game out, and they paid for it with a stoppage-time goal.
The episode, which took place during pre-season, serves as a warning ahead of a campaign in which the Bavarian giants are expected to challenge for the Bundesliga title and make a deep run in the Champions League. High-stakes matches are often decided by fine margins, and an avoidable sending-off can cost an entire tie. Olise needs to understand that his team needs him on the pitch, not in the dressing room.
No financial penalty: a public warning and a lesson for the future
Despite the strength of his words, Matthäus does not believe Bayern should impose a financial penalty on the player. For now, the matter appears to be settled with a very public dressing-down and a clear warning: the Frenchman has to find the balance between being decisive in attack and keeping his emotions in check when opponents try to get under his skin.
The first red card of his career came in a pre-season friendly, a far less pressurized setting than a European knockout tie or a top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash. Bayern will hope the Frenchman turns this mistake into a lesson, ensuring that scenes like Tuesday's do not repeat themselves when the stakes are genuinely high.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Michael Olise sent off against Viking Stavanger?
Olise threw the ball into the face of Zlatko Tripic, the Norwegian team's captain, after being provoked by the defender. The referee showed him a straight red card in the 74th minute of the friendly match.
What did Lothar Matthäus say about Olise's red card?
Matthäus was blunt: he said "that cannot happen" and insisted that Olise "let himself be provoked." The Bayern legend also pointed out that the Frenchman hurt both himself and, above all, his team in a match Bayern had under control.
How many red cards has Michael Olise received in his career?
The sending-off against Viking Stavanger was the first red card of Michael Olise's professional career. Until that match, the French winger had never been dismissed in an official game.