VAR ‘madness’ in Germany as penalty is awarded at half-time - how Twitter reacted
Mainz and Freiburg players were called back from the dressing rooms during the Bundesliga clash
‘Chaos’, ‘madness’ and ‘bizarre’ - that’s just three of the words used to describe the scenes when a penalty was awarded at half-time during last night’s Bundesliga clash between Mainz and Freiburg.
The players had already gone off for the interval when the German official Guido Winkmann consulted the video assistant referee (VAR) about a Freiburg handball in the last moments of the first-half.
Sky Sports reports that Winkmann “stopped his own descent down the tunnel after a message in his ear”. After looking at replays of a cross from Mainz’s Daniel Brosinski striking Freiburg defender Marc Oliver Kempf on the hand, Winkmann awarded the spot-kick and the players were “hauled back to the pitch”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mainz midfielder Pablo de Blasis scored from the spot to give his side the lead, he then added another after 78 minutes to secure the 2-0 victory.
“Extraordinary scenes - I’ve never seen anything like it,” was how the BT Sport commentator described the “historic” moment. While European football writer Andy Brassell told BBC Radio 5 live that the penalty was a “new low” for video technology in football.
“Potentially one of the most vital goals in the fight at the bottom, but a new low for VAR,” said Brassell. “The ref maybe shouldn’t have sent them off as quickly, it depends on how quickly VAR contacted him.
“The problem is not the technology, it is the process. I can’t understand why referees are involved in the decision-making process at all, if it is to be used for clear and obvious errors, surely the VAR has to tell the referee what the decision is. In this case you've got a couple thousand fans off to the bar and they come back thinking it is 0-0. I still think the penalty is debatable.”
Freiburg sporting director Jochen Saier told Eurosport that the VAR decision “leaves a bitter taste”. Saier added: “We were under the impression that when the referee blows for half-time that's it.”
How Twitter reacted to the VAR penalty decision in Germany:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Pros and cons of VAR in football
Pros and Cons String of mistakes has put new technology under the microscope
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
German national team shows support for LGBTQ community during World Cup protest
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Sport shorts: Bundesliga ready to return on 9 May - if German government approves
Speed Read Ten things from the world of sport on Thursday 23 April
By The Week Staff Published
-
How do you solve a problem like VAR?
In Depth Premier League managers and fans are growing increasingly frustrated and changes could be on the way
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sports shorts: Arsenal stars in gang war, VAR debuts in Premier League, Andy Murray returns to singles
Daily Briefing Ten things from the world of sport on Monday 12 August
By The Week Staff Published
-
Spurs seal controversial win against Chelsea after Harry Kane’s VAR penalty
Speed Read Tottenham take a narrow lead into the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final
By The Week Staff Published
-
2019 January transfer window: when does it open and close?
Speed Read Clubs, players and agents prepare for the new year’s sales
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Champions League: VAR set to be used in this season’s knockout rounds
Speed Read Uefa chiefs move to fast-track the introduction of video assistant referees
By The Week Staff Published