A few days ago, Oliver Glasner was “in principle happy that there was video evidence”. The technology makes “football fairer”.
For the five-year anniversary of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Bundesliga, however, the Eintracht Frankfurt coach probably at least internally cursed the decision that ultimately screwed up the victory for him and his Europa League winners against 1. FC Köln.
Almost five minutes for the analysis
“And every weekend I stand there and have to discuss refereeing decisions, which is actually not my job. It’s about football!”, Frankfurt’s national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp thundered without any restraint after the 1-1 (0-0).
Referee Martin Petersen discusses with Kevin Trapp
The late Cologne equalizer in front of 50,800 spectators by Jan Thielmann (82nd minute) was only recognized by referee Martin Petersen and the video assistants after a five-minute analysis. It was about the tricky question of whether striker Florian Dietz was offside – and had also blocked Trapp’s view.
After looking at the TV screen on the sidelines, Petersen decided that the goal was regular – and had to listen to the whistles of the Frankfurt fans after the final whistle.
Trapp: “I really don’t understand it anymore”
“Of course we say it has to be cancelled. The striker is in Kevin’s line – then it’s offside,” said Glasner and, in view of eleven games without a win in the league across the season, tried to take a positive overall view of things: ” 1-1 with an offside goal – that was a step forward in many areas.”
Trapp, however, did not regain his composure so quickly and scolded the DAZN microphone: “Last week we got a penalty taken back, yesterday in Berlin a very clear penalty was not given and the goal is not taken back here. I really don’t understand it anymore !”
Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart admitted “that it was an offside position” if you watched the scene calmly. “If the goal hadn’t counted then we couldn’t have complained.” Even goalscorer Thielmann answered evasively when asked whether Dietz had been offside and obstructed Trapp’s view: “Of course, as a native of Cologne, I have to say no…”.
Ex-referee Heynemann also criticizes VAR
Former Bundesliga referee Bernd Heynemann also sharply criticized the video referee (VAR). “Five years of VAR in the Bundesliga. An anniversary that I do not congratulate. Instead of a party mood, frustration prevails for me,” wrote the 68-year-old in a column for “Kicker” (Monday). “I coined the terms darkroom for the Cologne basement and penalty area police,” Heynemann continued: “Now the contact police are added.”
The former FIFA referee was bothered by a penalty decision in FC Augsburg’s game against Mainz 05 (1:2) and a disallowed goal at Leverkusen against Hoffenheim (0:3).
Heynemann emphasized that he did not have the referees in mind, but rather the specifications for the VAR: “If we look at the entire development of an attack, whether there might have been something, we can sit down on the Playstation and play football there .”