Overview
- A multi-minute video check in 1. FC Köln vs. Hamburger SV resulted in a disallowed HSV goal after reviews for foul and offside.
- On Sky90, Didi Hamann argued VAR "tears the heart out of football" and said decisions should rest with on-field referees.
- Taz columnist Peter Unfried contended the technology erodes trust in the whistle and reduces referees to proxies for off-screen judgments.
- FOCUS commentary pointed to stoppages stretching four to six minutes that disrupt match flow and frustrate spectators.
- Reporting describes an escalating national debate over VAR’s value in Germany, with growing calls for reassessment and no announced rule changes.