"Whether it's games being plagued by lengthy delays, the near-abolition of spontaneous goal celebrations or game-changing goals being ruled out due to a toenail being offside, the use of VAR is one of the least-popular introductions to the sport in recent years."
"This was not a case of a technical error, but rather an act of sabotage from a balaclava-wearing Munster supporter, who had managed to unplug the monitor and leave the official looking hapless in front of a black screen."
VAR has faced widespread criticism since its 2018 approval by IFAB, with complaints ranging from lengthy delays to controversial offside decisions. Discontent has typically manifested through fan boos and social media criticism. During a Bundesliga 2 match between Preussen Munster and Hertha Berlin, supporters took direct action by storming the pitch and unplugging the VAR monitor cable. When referee Felix Bickel arrived to review a potential penalty incident, he encountered a blank screen. The sabotage forced the VAR assistant in the video centre to make the penalty decision independently, resulting in a spot kick that Hertha Berlin converted.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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