Overview
- FC Bayern beat Köln 4:1 after Luis Díaz’s offside equaliser was allowed under the Pokal’s no‑VAR policy for early rounds, with Harry Kane scoring twice and Michael Olise adding the fourth.
- Reactions to the decision were sharp from players, coaches and ex‑referees, as Jan Thielmann and Manuel Gräfe joined broadcasters in saying the goal would have been overturned with VAR.
- Union Berlin reached the Achtelfinale by defeating Arminia Bielefeld 2:1 after extra time, with Danilho Doekhi scoring in the 106th minute after Bielefeld were reduced to ten due to Marvin Mehlem’s injury once substitutions were exhausted.
- Darmstadt eliminated Schalke 4:0 with goals from Hiroki Akiyama, Matej Maglica, Fraser Hornby and Bartosz Bialek, in a match overshadowed by a fan’s medical emergency that required reanimation; vocal support was paused and the fan remained in critical condition.
- Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen needed extra time to win 4:2 at Paderborn, Stuttgart won 2:0 in Mainz, Freiburg prevailed 3:1 at Düsseldorf, Magdeburg beat Illertissen 3:0 and Kaiserslautern won 1:0 at Fürth.