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RB Leipzig's Timo Werner makes apology for dive against Schalke

RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner has apologised for the dive that earned his side a penalty in the first minute of their 2-1 win over Schalke on Saturday.

Werner went to ground as he touched the ball past Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann, who was incredulous to see the referee point to the spot and then book him for a foul.

Werner said he tried to tell the official that Fahrmann had not touched him.

"All I can do is repeat what I said yesterday, that [Schalke defender] Naldo disrupted my run and therefore I lost control, which everybody could see," Werner was quoted as saying by sport1.de.

"Of course it then not only looks like a dive, but it is one -- full stop. If Ralf Fahrmann doesn't touch me, which I have always stated, then what else can it be?

"Up until when the referee showed Fahrmann the yellow card, I thought he had given it for Naldo's obstruction and that is why the referee had given the penalty.

"The Schalke players have confirmed that I told the referee that Fahrmann had not touched me so there is no more for me to say about it, other than that it was a bad thing for me to do and I'm sorry."

The goal set Leipzig on their way to an eighth straight Bundesliga win that saw them open up a three-point lead over Bayern Munich at the top of the table.

For Schalke, it was a first defeat in eight games and a difficult one to digest in view of the penalty decision.

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