OMG — Oh My God

Scandals in blond and white: Bayer Leverkusen are "the eternal runners-up," say all those who dislike the works club. "Civil-servant football" is the charge from critics who believe the club underperforms despite the backing of the mighty Bayer corporation. Lack of bite, blandness — perhaps, perhaps not. But one thing the Werkself have never lacked is scandal.

Schuster sues his own club: When Bernd Schuster returned to the Bundesliga from Spain in 1993 to join Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the works club believed they had signed their first world star. The good-natured Bayer coach Dragoslav Stepanović soon found that managing the temperamental genius was another matter entirely. The relationship deteriorated until Schuster took legal action against his own employer.

Phantom goal champions Bayer 04: Twice in their Bundesliga history, Bayer scored goals that quite obviously weren't. Only the referee didn't notice. One was given and brought the scorer shame; the other was disallowed by the scorer himself, earning astonished admiration. In order:

Phantom goal 1: March 7, 1981. There's a whiff of sensation at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Bayer 04, playing their second Bundesliga season, were demolishing reigning and future champions Bayern München. It was already 3-0 at half-time, all goals by the Norwegian Arne-Larsen Økland. Then in the 72nd minute, something happened that would haunt the scorer forever.

Phantom goal 2: The second phantom goal fell in the Bundesliga's 50th season in the away match at Sinsheim against TSG Hoffenheim. This time the ball was in the net, but shouldn't have been — it gained "unauthorised entry." A hole gaped in the side netting, and through it the ball slipped in the seventh minute, creating one of the most bizarre incidents in Bundesliga history.