Overview

• Germany’s FA said IFAB confirmed the video assistant may intervene when a player illegally touches the ball twice on a restart and the ensuing attack results in a goal or penalty.
• The move stems from the Bayern–RB Leipzig opener, when Castello Lukeba’s faulty free-kick preceded a Leipzig goal that was later annulled after review.
• DFB officials said the decision to cancel the goal was correct, though the VAR’s involvement did not conform to the prior protocol.
• Under the refined application, the first touch on a restart is deemed the start of the attacking phase, and a same-player second touch becomes an offense subject to review.
• DFB VAR head Jochen Drees said the step provides greater fairness and legal certainty after he sought swift guidance from IFAB, a push also noted by DFB Schiri GmbH’s Knut Kircher.