Union Berlin’s fiery coach Steffen Baumgart is once again at the center of Bundesliga controversy after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt that had everything—goals, VAR drama, and a touchline storm worthy of the headlines.
Baumgart, already sent off late in the game for angrily booting a paper ball onto the pitch, could now be in even deeper trouble. TV cameras captured the Union coach appearing to flash a middle finger gesture moments after Frankfurt were awarded a late penalty through VAR. Though missed by referee Sven Jablonski and his assistants at the time, the footage has since gone viral—prompting the DFB Sports Court to step in.
The incident risks overshadowing what should have been a night of glory for Union, powered by an Oliver Burke hat-trick that secured the club’s climb to 10th in the Bundesliga. Instead, headlines are now dominated by Baumgart’s temper.
At the post-match press conference, the 53-year-old brushed off the gesture as harmless frustration, insisting:
“I was looking into the void, it didn’t go in any direction. It was just emotion because of the video evidence.”
But the DFB rarely turns a blind eye to such scenes. A mandatory one-match ban is already confirmed for his red card, yet the middle finger controversy could extend his suspension—potentially leaving Union without their emotional leader for several weeks.
Behind the chaos, Union fans will remember the fightback: seven goals, last-minute drama, and Burke’s clinical finishing. But Baumgart’s combustible antics are once again testing the balance between passion and professionalism.
As the DFB prepares its verdict, Union Berlin must now prepare for their next match without their animated coach on the sidelines—and possibly for much longer if the ban is extended.
For Baumgart, who thrives on being in the heart of the battle, watching from the stands might be the harshest punishment of all.
