German Bundesliga referees to explain VAR decisions to spectators

In a groundbreaking move aimed at enhancing transparency, referees in Germany’s Bundesliga and second division will soon begin explaining Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions directly to spectators within stadiums. This initiative, which follows similar practices in ice hockey and American football, will be introduced as a pilot project across nine stadiums.

The trial phase is set to commence this upcoming weekend and will be implemented in selected matches, including Bayern Munich vs Holstein Kiel, St. Pauli vs Augsburg, and Fortuna Düsseldorf vs Ulm on Saturday. Additionally, the Eintracht Frankfurt vs Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim fixtures on Sunday will also see the introduction of this initiative. Other participating venues in the pilot project include the stadiums of Borussia Dortmund, SC Freiburg, RB Leipzig, and Greuther Fürth.

The initiative is driven by the objective of making the VAR system more effective and transparent for fans. Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, who is also a member of the German Football League (DFL) Commission, stated, “We want to improve the VAR system and make it more transparent for everyone involved.”

Currently, communication between referees and their assistants is facilitated via an existing radio link on the pitch and with video assistants based in Cologne. However, with this new initiative, referees will have the ability to activate a connection with the stadium’s speaker system, allowing them to provide real-time explanations of their decisions to fans in attendance.

The implementation of public VAR announcements has been decided by a committee of nine members within the DFL. The move is expected to bridge the communication gap between match officials and spectators, ensuring that decisions made on the pitch are better understood by those watching live.

If the pilot phase proves successful, the system could be expanded to all Bundesliga stadiums in the future, potentially setting a new standard for football leagues globally. The DFL remains committed to evaluating the effectiveness of the project and gathering feedback from stakeholders to determine its long-term feasibility.

This initiative marks a significant step towards improving the in-stadium experience for fans and aligns with broader efforts to modernise football officiating and enhance its credibility in the eyes of supporters.

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