Does the DFB-Pokal need VAR earlier?

"Early in build-up, Aleksandar Pavlović and Konrad Laimer swapped around in the right-back and midfield areas until Laimer got himself an open lane to jaunt down the full length of the pitch before eventually releasing Josip Stanišić into a dangerous shooting position in the box. The Croatian fired, Köln keeper Ron-Robert Zieler saved but spilled, and Bayern winger Luis Díaz instantly pounced on the rebound to turn in the equalizer. Only one problem: Díaz was offside at the time of Stanišić's shot and the goal never should have stood."

"But VAR doesn't kick in until the third round of the Pokal. Mistakes happen, but this was an egregious example. Díaz isn't close to being onside here and the officials should have had the call right to begin with. The consequences were worse: Köln was giving the German record champions what-for and were the first side to hold a lead against them all year."

Bayern Munich's DFB-Pokal Second Round match at RheinEnergieStadion saw FC Köln take a surprising 1-0 lead before Bayern produced a flowing attack. Konrad Laimer drove downfield and released Josip Stanišić, whose shot was saved and spilled by Ron-Robert Zieler; Luis Díaz scored from the rebound but was clearly offside. VAR was not available until the third round of the Pokal, so the offside goal stood and shifted momentum, leading to a 4-1 Bayern victory. Implementing VAR earlier faces logistical challenges because of the large number of matches and many lower-tier clubs, and critics point to delays, interruptions to celebration, and lost spontaneity.

Read at Bavarian Football Works