Overview
- After controversial second-round calls, including a Luis Díaz goal for Bayern against Köln that reports say should have been offside, pressure has grown to introduce VAR earlier in the cup.
- DFB Schiri GmbH’s Jochen Drees said officials are open to deploying VAR from the second round if venues pass individual checks on staffing and technical requirements.
- BILD estimates the video review setup at roughly €20,000 per Bundesliga or 2. Liga match based on equipment and personnel costs, with no clear payer identified for lower-tier cup hosts.
- Some lower-league stadiums lack the necessary infrastructure, with Illertissen cited as needing additional construction and Cottbus also listed as not technically ready in the second round.
- Debate continues over selective use and competitive fairness, as Sky pundit Dietmar Hamann urges uniform VAR across the competition while SPORT1 voices push back on claims referees have ‘forgotten’ their craft.