Overview
- The mandatory pre‑kickoff meeting between referees, captains and coaches is suspended with immediate effect across the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga.
- Introduced for 2025/26, the session was scheduled about 70 minutes before kickoff in the referees’ dressing room to clarify expectations and rule changes.
- A meeting of club sporting officials concluded the dialog was difficult to integrate into match preparation and offered fewer meaningful issues as the season progressed.
- Schiri GmbH head Knut Kircher said clubs recognized the concept’s value but rejected a weekly cadence after it created a disruptive feeling on matchdays.
- The leagues left open selective use in future, potentially for the opening matchdays of a new season to highlight rule adjustments.