Hamburg midfielder Nicolai Remberg has described Philip Otele’s dismissal as “unfortunate” but admitted it further compounded Hamburger’s struggles in their 3-1 defeat to Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion on Saturday.

The Nigeria international, who joined the Bundesliga side during the winter transfer window, caught Cameron Puertas on the shin with his studs raised.

Referee Florian Exner initially waved play on but was later advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

After consulting VAR, he overturned his original decision and issued Otele a straight red card in the 79th minute for a serious foul. 

Reacting after the game, Remberg acknowledged the negative impact of the sending-off on Hamburg’s performance, noting that repeated dismissals have made it increasingly difficult for the team to compete effectively.

"On top of that, though, it’s simply not clever play to keep weakening ourselves by getting red cards. The sending-off was unfortunate," he told Werder Bremen's official website. 

He also expressed his support for the Nigerian international, who came on in the second half as Hamburg pushed to get back into the game.

"He didn’t mean to do it but inadvertently made a nasty tackle. Once again, we found ourselves down to ten men and had to chase the game," he added. 

The incident represents a significant setback for Otele, who has endured a difficult spell in the Bundesliga despite a promising start to his Hamburg career.

The 27-year-old made an immediate impact on his debut, registering an assist in a 2-0 away victory over FC Heidenheim.

However, he has struggled to build on that performance, managing just one goal in his subsequent eight league appearances.

Adeyemi Adewale