Brann faced a challenging match against Bologna in the Europa League, where they were dealt a significant blow with a direct red card issued to Jacob Lungi Sørensen. The team found themselves down to ten men for nearly an hour, making it exceedingly difficult to compete in the return leg of the tie. Although Brann initially started strong and had the best scoring chances in the first half hour, their situation deteriorated after Sørensen's foul, which was contested vigorously by Brann supporters and commentators alike.

The incident occurred in the 37th minute, prompting immediate frustration from the Brann camp. Experts, like Jonas Grønner from Bergensavisens, expressed disbelief over the referee's decision, stating it was not a clear case for a red card. The match was attended by around 900 Brann supporters along with a significant fan presence from Bologna, which added to the high stakes atmosphere. The frustration from Brann’s fans grew, especially since they felt the red card unfairly shifted the dynamics of the match against them.

Ultimately, Brann's efforts were not enough, and they exited the Europa League with a 0-2 aggregate score. The backlash against the officiating highlighted the tensions and high emotions often associated with such crucial matches, raising questions over the consistency of refereeing in high-stakes tournaments. This match serves as a reminder of how pivotal officiating decisions can be in determining the outcomes of sports competitions, particularly on such an important stage as European tournaments.