03/09/26 04:20:00
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03/09 04:18 CDT Masked fan unplugs VAR monitor at German soccer game to disrupt
video review
Masked fan unplugs VAR monitor at German soccer game to disrupt video review
MUENSTER, Germany (AP) --- A masked fan has unplugged the referee's video
review monitor at a German soccer game while the referee was deciding on a
penalty, in an apparent protest against VAR technology.
The unidentified fan came out of the stands and unplugged the monitor which
referee Felix Bickel was trying to use to decide on a penalty in Sunday's
second-division game between Preussen Muenster and Hertha Berlin, Muenster said
in a statement.
TV footage showed a person in white overalls and a ski mask in Muenster green
climbing back into the home fans' stand.
It didn't stop the decision going against the home team as video assistant
referee Katrin Rafalski was able to decide remotely and communicated that
decision to Bickel. Hertha's Fabian Reese scored the penalty, the opening goal
of a 2-1 win.
Muenster said it "regrets the incident and will do everything it can to
identify the perpetrator or perpetrators and bring them to justice," and added
it would take steps to stop the incident happening again.
"Initial findings indicate that this was a planned action," Muenster added. A
photo in German media showed home fans displaying a large banner with a message
reading "Pull the plug on VAR."
Muenster captain Jorrit Hendrix said he was happy about the incident, though.
"It shows how the fans experience things and that they want to do everything to
win the game," he said in comments broadcast by TV show Sportschau. "If they
can do something to influence it, they do that. I completely understand it and
think it's a good thing."
Ever since VAR was introduced in German soccer in 2017, it's been controversial
among fans. Many see video review delays as an unwelcome interruption to the
flow of the game.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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