Middle finger to opposing fans? Bayern Munich star stirs up controversy in DFB-Pokal match against Mainz

Mainz suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday. Jamal Musiala scored a hattrick, but the game didn't end without drama.

Videos that have surfaced online show how Michael Olise initially walks past the Mainz fans at the sideline during warm-up and then seemingly shows them the middle finger. Before that, some home fans can be heard insulting and abusing the French winger.

Bayern Munich have already responded to the video footage broadcasted by German channel Sport1 and defended Olise. German publication BILD reached out to the club and asked their stance on the video, to which Bayern replied: "He (Olise) was provoked and had beer thrown at him. He then reacted with a gesture, but it was not offensive."

Olise had already been jeered during last week's Bundesliga game away at Bochum, where he scored the opening goal in a 5-0 rout. The reason why the Frenchman was subjected to boos and jeers was that he demanded the referee to award a penalty in the early phases of the game. Subsequently, he was booed everytime he touched the ball.

Olise and Bayern will be challenged again on Saturday, November 2. The record Bundesliga winners will host fourth-placed Union Berlin at the Allianz Arena.