DFB Referee Chief Knut Kircher Evaluates First Half of Bundesliga Season

Kircher highlights improvements in VAR usage and handball rule interpretation while acknowledging areas for further progress.

Knut Kircher, head of DFB Schiri GmbH since July 2024, has given a positive mid-season assessment of Bundesliga refereeing performance, noting mostly strong officiating with only minor inconsistencies.
VAR interventions have decreased by 30% compared to last season, reflecting a shift toward prioritizing on-field decisions and the 'clear and obvious' standard.
Adjustments to the handball rule after early-season issues have led to no incorrect or missed handball penalty calls since the third matchday, although VAR is still frequently needed for such decisions.
Kircher graded the VAR system as a '3 with a tendency toward 2' and expressed optimism about its continued refinement in Bundesliga matches.
He also discussed broader referee challenges, including the implementation of the captain's rule, referee workload concerns, and the development of female officials, such as Fabienne Michel, for potential future roles in top leagues.