The Munich crowd — and the commentators calling the game — certainly weren’t expecting this.
When calling a false start penalty against the Panthers on Sunday during their international clash against the Giants at Allianz Arena, referee Shawn Hochuli issued the call in German before reciting it in English.
The crowd immediately began cheering, as heard on the NFL Network broadcast, while commentators Kurt Warner and Rich Eisen were taken aback by the multilingual move.
Referee Shawn Hochuli spoke German when calling a penalty during the Giants-Panthers clash in Munich, Germany, on Nov. 10, 2024. NFL/X“That was a big-time flex right there,” Warner said as Eisen exclaimed, “Look at Shawn Hochuli!”
Interestingly enough, Hochuli’s father, Ed Hochuli, recited a penalty in Spanish during the league’s first game in Mexico in 2005.
The Panthers dominated the Giants in the first half, 10-0, closing out the second quarter with a Daniel Jones interception.
The Panthers led the Giants in the first half, 10-0. AP
Giants QB Daniel Jones (8) throws the ball in the first half against the Panthers on Nov. 10, 2024. APCarolina is coming off a 23-22 win over the rival Saints, who parted ways with coach Dennis Allen on Monday following the Week 9 loss.
The Giants, meanwhile, are looking to snap a four-game losing skid as questions loom about Jones’ future in New York.
The quarterback is in the second year of a four-year, $160 million extension he signed with the Giants in 2023 after a stunning run to the playoffs during the 2022 season.
Both the Giants and Panthers entered Sunday with 2-7 records.
