Kane’s Explosive Verdict: The Referee He Calls the Worst He’s Faced
1 February 2026
Incident and reactions
Harry Kane, Bayern Munich's English striker, unleashed a scathing critique of referee Harm Osmers who officiated the 2-2 draw with Hamburg, calling his performance the worst in his career.
According to German newspaper Bild, a wave of fury swept Bayern players due to several refereeing decisions, with protests not limited to post-match quotes but extending beyond the final whistle.
Members of Bayern's coaching staff then went to the referees' dressing room at Volksparkstadion, surrounding Osmers and vehemently contesting several decisions they felt harmed their side.
Neuer's measured response
Historically Bayern’s record scorer Kane was filmed passing the referees with a dissatisfied shake of the head, muttering, “The worst thing I’ve encountered in football.”
Though the 32-year-old striker did not name anyone, it was clear he was targeting Osmers and his performance during a game that saw Bayern squander two valuable points.
Manuel Neuer, the Bayern goalkeeper, chose a calmer approach in his post-match remarks, suggesting that the controversy over officiating always signals a flaw in handling the match.
Neuer commented: “When the referee becomes the talking point after the game, that’s not a good sign; it’s better not to even mention the referee’s name, because that usually means he controlled the flow of the game.”
Neuer concluded: “But when you are asked about the referee again and again, that is not in his favor at all.”
Credit: Getty Images
— Punchlines to close:
Punchline 1: If complaining were a sport, Kane would win gold every time.
Punchline 2: The referee’s whistle might need a vacation—it’s clearly on strike after that performance.
