Gianluigi Donnarumma Tackle ‘Normal’, Says Hummels

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s sliding challenge on Jamal Musiala has sparked fierce debate, but former Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels believes the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper did nothing out of the ordinary when the two collided during the recent friendly in the Middle East.

Gianluigi Donnarumma Challenge Under the Microscope

Slow-motion replays show Gianluigi Donnarumma racing off his line in the 24th minute as Musiala burst through the right-half space. The 1.96 m Italian slid low, right leg extended, arms tucked, attempting to smother the ball before the Bayern prodigy could shoot. Musiala’s studs caught in the turf a split-second before contact, causing his right ankle to twist awkwardly beneath the weight of the follow-through. Social media quickly labelled the incident a “horror tackle,” yet Hummels, speaking on a Bundesliga World feed, firmly rejected that description.

Hummels Defends the PSG Goalkeeper

“From my perspective it was a completely normal action,” Hummels said. “Gianluigi Donnarumma goes for the ball, keeps his studs down, and arrives a fraction earlier. Jamal tries to avoid him, loses balance, and unfortunately gets hurt. That is football, not brutality.”
The 2014 World Cup winner added that both players “played their part,” stressing Musiala’s lightning change of direction made any contact appear worse.

Shared Responsibility on the Pitch

According to Hummels, modern attackers often push defenders and goalkeepers into split-second decisions. “If you dribble inside the box at top speed,” he noted, “you accept that even the cleanest slide can produce an ugly outcome.” Gianluigi Donnarumma, renowned for explosive exits from his six-yard area, has never been sent off for a foul outside the box in more than 350 senior games, reinforcing Hummels’ view that recklessness is not part of the Italian’s make-up.

What the Laws of the Game Say

Law 12 states that a direct-free-kick foul becomes card-worthy when the challenge is “careless, reckless or using excessive force.” Referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim waved play on, signalling a goal-kick once Musiala limped off. Video-assistant officials reviewed the collision in real time and agreed. Former UEFA referee Manuel Gräfe likewise defended the no-call on German television: “Donnarumma’s studs are down, his centre of gravity is low, and crucially he plays the ball first. The subsequent contact, while unfortunate, is incidental.”

Statistical Context

• Gianluigi Donnarumma has averaged 0.11 fouls per 90 minutes since joining PSG.
• Jamal Musiala completed a Bundesliga-best 4.6 successful dribbles per match last season.
Those numbers illustrate the fine margins: a low-fouling keeper meeting one of Europe’s most elusive dribblers.

Impact on Bayern Munich and Musiala’s Timeline

Bayern’s initial medical report confirmed a grade-two ankle sprain for Musiala, sidelining him for three to four weeks. Thomas Tuchel loses his most creative midfielder ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Chelsea, and the absence could extend into the Bundesliga restart.
Internally, Bayern’s coaching staff emphasised that the injury stemmed primarily from the youngster’s planted foot rather than Gianluigi Donnarumma’s impact. Nonetheless, sporting director Christoph Freund urged governing bodies to “protect flair players,” reviving an age-old debate.

PSG Perspective

Sources close to the Ligue 1 champions say Gianluigi Donnarumma apologised to Musiala by text that evening and offered to visit him at Bayern’s base camp. PSG coach Luis Enrique praised his goalkeeper’s “commitment to winning the ball, done in the fairest way possible.” With the Parisian club eyeing a maiden Champions League crown, they can ill afford a suspension to their first-choice stopper—something UEFA’s disciplinary panel confirmed would not happen after analysing match footage.

Historical Echoes of Similar Incidents

• 2013: Manuel Neuer vs. Gonzalo Higuaín in the World Cup final—no foul given, despite heavy collision.
• 2019: Ederson vs. Diogo Jota—VAR upgraded the incident to a red card.
The comparison underlines how speed, angle, and referee interpretation can turn near-identical plays into opposite verdicts. Gianluigi Donnarumma, in this case, falls on the lenient side of history.

Primary Takeaways for Players and Coaches

1. Attackers must anticipate goalkeeper advances and adjust stride patterns.
2. Goalkeepers should continue to lead with hands and body, keeping studs low—exactly what Gianluigi Donnarumma executed.
3. Referees benefit from clear metrics: angle of approach, point of contact, and whether the ball is played first.

Adhering to these principles reduces both actual injuries and post-match controversies.

Opinion: A Lesson in Modern Defending

Ultimately, the uproar surrounding Gianluigi Donnarumma’s slide reflects football’s growing intolerance for any collision that ends in pain. Yet collisions, by nature, cannot be eradicated from a contact sport. Mats Hummels’ measured defence reminds us that intent and technique matter more than slow-motion optics. Musiala’s injury is regrettable, but labelling Donnarumma’s act “brutal” dilutes the term and unfairly vilifies a goalkeeper performing his duty. The game would be poorer if decisive, ball-winning tackles were replaced by risk-averse hesitation.