Bundesliga
How is a goalscorer determined in the Bundesliga?
Jonathan Tah's superb backheel finish for Bayern Munich against Werder Bremen on Matchday 5 took a touch off Luis Díaz on its way to the back of the net. So which player should be awarded the goal and why? Here’s how the DFL’s guidelines determine goalscorers and own goals.
For Bayern's opener, Michael Olise curled the ball into the penalty area, where Tah - with his back to goal - improvised to flick it goalwards with his heel. The ball was goal-bound but glanced off teammate Díaz’s knee on its way to the back of the net.
The Bayern players wheeled away in celebration, but one question remained: Whose touch proved decisive? Tah’s backheel or Díaz’s deflection?
Watch: The goal in question in Bayern's victory over Bremen (from 00:12)
The answer lies in the official match data definitions and with the DFL’s guidelines for deciding who is credited with a goal and when a goal is ruled an own goal.
At its core, the rule is: The player who takes the decisive shot on goal is credited with the goal.
If the ball is merely touched before crossing the goal line, without any control or intention to play the ball or change its trajectory, the player who took the original shot remains the goalscorer.
Examples:
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The ball rebounds off the post or an opposing player and goes into the net.
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The goalkeeper gets a touch on the shot but cannot prevent the goal.
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A pass played near the goal counts as a shot if it is clearly directed towards the goal, even if it takes an uncontrolled or accidental deflection on its way through.
In the case of Tah against Bremen, the defender’s backheel attempt was the clear and deliberate shot on goal. Díaz did get a touch on the ball, but without any visible control or intent to take a shot himself.
With regards to own goals: An own goal is attributed to a defender when a clearly identifiable defensive action fails and causes the ball to go into their own net.
Examples:
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There was no shot on goal from the attacking team, and the ball only ends up in the net due to the defender’s action.
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A shot on goal is clearly deflected into the defender’s own net through an active defensive movement.
Fundamental principle for own goals: In cases of doubt, the decision is made in favor of the attacking player who took the shot.