podcast
The Bundesliga update hosts Anne Hilt and Tobi Schäfer discuss the referee decisions in the derby between Gladbach and Cologne. The video assistant switched on twice and sent referee Deniz Aytekin out to watch the scenes again.
Both times Aytekin subsequently decided on a penalty. The two hosts assess the second situation, the handball by Cologne’s Kristoffer Lund, differently. But they agree: the video referee didn’t do a good job in this game. He didn’t intervene on the third penalty, which, in Anne and Tobi’s opinion, would have been appropriate in this situation.
Artificial intelligence or Trainer challenge?
Both coaches, Lukas Kwasniok and Eugen Polanski, also agreed after the game that they are not fans of VAR. In its current function, the use of the video assistant always causes discussions. Tobi agrees with Kwasniok that the video referee should only be used for “black and white decisions”, such as offside. Anne thinks that artificial intelligence could help or that coaches should be given the opportunity to challenge situations and thus activate the video referee.
Derby victory = employment contract for Polanski?
Since Haris Tabakovic missed the first penalty for Gladbach anyway (the first goal came from the subsequent corner), the VAR decisions probably only had an indirect influence on the outcome of the game. But the fact is that the Gladbachers definitely deserved to win the derby with their performance. However, a promotion for Polanski to head coach is still pending.
The Bundesliga update – every Thursday and Monday
The Bundesliga update is available in the ARD audio library, wherever podcasts are available and on the Sportschau football channel on YouTube. New episodes appear on Thursday afternoons and Monday mornings.