Ref backtracks after player owns up

A player in Germany's second division admitted after winning a penalty on Sunday that he had not been fouled, prompting the referee to overturn his original decision. VfL Bochum captain Felix Bastians was praised by both sides for his conduct following the incident which happened when his team were trailing Darmstadt 1-0 with less than half an hour to go. Referee Benedikt Kempkes pointed to the spot when Bastians burst into the penalty area and went down in the 63rd minute. As he was surrounded by protesting Darmstadt players, the referee decided to ask Bastians what had really happened -- and the Bochum player said there had been no contact. "The ref asked me if he had touched me, which he hadn't," said Bastians. "He stuck his foot out and when I'm at full speed that's enough sometimes. But I told him there was no contact and that's why he correctly didn't award the penalty."