The video referee will be used for the first time in the women’s DFB Cup final between defending champions VfL Wolfsburg and SC Freiburg on May 18. The German Football Association announced that goal-line technology will also be used.
“The use of the video assistants in this game is another step towards professionalizing women’s football,” said department head Christine Baitinger: “Our referees are very well prepared for this through the appropriate training and the assignments in the Video Assist Center. We are looking forward to this innovation.”
advancement and record setting
Fabienne Michel from Mainz, who will direct the game, also spoke of one “important step for further development in the women’s sector”. In addition to Vanessa Arlt from Greven, Katrin Rafalksi from Baunatal, two-time referee of the year in Germany and since 2019 as VAR in men’s games, also acts as a video assistant.
15 days before the final, around 29,000 tickets have already been sold. The previous record since the league game between 1. FC Köln and Eintracht Frankfurt (0:2) on April 23 has been 38,365 spectators. The previous record for a final in Cologne comes from the premiere year 2010 with 26,282 and has already been surpassed.