In a Bundesliga clash that had major Champions League implications, RB Leipzig fell 4-1 to Bayer Leverkusen, but it wasn't just the scoreline that had Leipzig coach Ole Werner talking after the match. The real controversy? A ball-boy's lightning-fast assist that helped set up Leverkusen's opening goal.

The drama unfolded when Leipzig's Nicolas Seiwald headed the ball out of play. In a flash, a Leverkusen ball-boy tossed a fresh ball to goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who quickly launched a counter-attack that ended with Patrik Schick putting the hosts ahead. Werner didn't hold back, calling the moment a turning point that "gave the game a direction" — even if Schick's hat-trick ultimately sealed Leipzig's fate.

Here's where things get tricky. Before the season, the German Football League (DFL) recommended that ball-boys place balls on marked spots rather than hand them directly to players. But since this isn't an official FIFA rule, enforcement is optional — and that has Werner frustrated. "Basically I am a big fan of there being a rule. If the rule is not implemented, it has to be punished in some way," he told reporters, adding that coaches had discussed making the rule uniform six months ago. "That is desirable for the future."

The irony? Later that same day, an Union Berlin ball-boy showed he knew the recommendation all too well — even to his own team's detriment. The youngster stubbornly held onto the ball as Union's Josip Juranović tried to take a quick throw-in, forcing the puzzled player to grab a spare ball from a nearby cone.

For Leipzig, the loss stings even more in the standings. Third-placed Leipzig now find Leverkusen breathing down their necks after the Werkself jumped into fourth place — likely the final Champions League spot with just two games remaining. Hoffenheim's 3-3 draw with fifth-placed Stuttgart only added to the drama, leaving the trio separated by goal difference. And with Germany still fighting for a fifth Champions League spot through UEFA coefficients, every point — and every second — matters more than ever.