UPDATE: Bizzare German Rule Means Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich Hat Trick Does Not Officially Count

UPDATE: Saturday, September 23 at 8:31 pm

A bizzare rule in German football means that the hat trick scored by Harry Kane in today’s 7-0 drubbing of VfL Bochum does not officially count.

According to The Sun, German rules state that for three goals to be recognised as a hat trick in the Bundesliga they must all be scored consecutively and in the same half of the match.

Kane hit his first after 12 minutes but then two other players added to the score before he hit his second two after the break. However, the peculiar rule still didn’t stop him from walking off with the signed match ball.

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Saturday, September 23 at 7:09 pm

ENGLAND captain Harry Kane’s new footballing career in Germany climbed to new heights this Saturday, September 23.

The prolific 30-year-old striker bagged his first hat trick of the season for Bayern Munich as they ran out eventual 7-0 winners against VfL Bochum.

A new one for the collection! ⚽️⚽️⚽️

What a team performance 🙌 #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/KSTZ6bse9B

— Harry Kane (@HKane) September 23, 2023

As a result, the former Tottenham frontman broke the German footballing legend Gerd Muller’s 59-year-old record for the most goals scored by a player in their first five league matches for the club.

Prior to today’s game, Kane had hit four goals in four domestic games. He added another in midweek during their 4-3 Champions League victory over Manchester United.

In netting his three goals, the England captain set a new record for the most goals scored in a player’s opening five Bayern league games. He moves past Mario Mandzukic, Miroslav Klose and club legend Gerd Muller on that list.

Muller set the original record 59 years ago back in 1964, scoring five times in his opening five outings for the German giants. Klose and Mandzukic were both able to match that feat, but Kane has now blown all three of them away.

Bayern ran riot against Bochum, taking the lead after only four minutes at the Allianz Arena when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put the ball in the net.

Not to be outdone by his strike partner, Kane followed suit by hitting a shot low beyond the Bochum keeper in the 12th minute. Incredibly, he totally fluffed another opportunity just a few minutes later, sending the ball flying over the bar instead.

Bayern were already 4-0 up at halftime

Before the interval, Matthijs de Ligt put the reigning champions three up, with the former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane notching the fourth to make the second half a mere formality.

Seven goals for a great home win! #inSané @FCBayern pic.twitter.com/NXBupEwTk0

— Leroy Sané (@leroy_sane) September 23, 2023

Kane stepped up in the 54th minute to convert a penalty in typical style. With nine minutes left on the clock, a sixth goal was added by the 18-year-old French wunderkind Mathys Tel who flicked the ball from the left into the far corner.

In the dying moments, Bayern’s new No. 9 completed the rout by prodding the ball in from close range to make it 7-0 and collect his first Bundesliga match ball in the process.

Thomas Tuchel is very happy to have Kane in Germany

After the protracted transfer saga that was played out between Bayern and Spurs during the summer, Thomas Tuchel is not reaping the dividends of the club’s perseverance.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, the coach said: ‘It’s a big thing, we took the skipper of England out of England. Anyone looking for a No9 would’ve been happy to have Harry in the team’.

Tuched continued: ‘He makes the team better and gives you what you want from a man. He can drop deep, turn, use the speed of players around him, he can arrive in the box at the right time, he’s an excellent finisher and a good penalty taker’.