DFL launches pilot project for the announcement of referee decisions
27 January 2025 – Further transparency when it comes to refereeing decisions – with this goal in mind, a pilot project for announcing referee decisions in the stadium will be launched for both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 on Matchday 20.
As part of the project, a total of nine Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 stadiums will see referees announce their decisions relating to certain situations on the pitch via stadium loudspeakers. The pilot project, which was initiated by the DFL Football Commission and driven forward in close coordination between the DFL and DFB Schiri GmbH, will be launched at five matches this coming weekend.
The referee will always speak to the crowd when he has been in the review area pitchside to check a decision on the monitor – or when he changes a decision following an intervention of the video assistant. The announcement will be made via the microphone of the referee’s headset and will be heard over the stadium loudspeakers. The referee will inform the spectators which phase of match action has been reviewed, the result of the review and the final decision. The announcement will also be integrated into the live broadcast of the media partners.
This procedure, known internationally as “Public Announcement”, will initially be trialled at selected Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 locations. The following clubs have voluntarily agreed to take part in the test phase: FC Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Fortuna Düsseldorf, SpVgg Greuther Fürth, FC St. Pauli. On Matchday 20 of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, the project will be tested for the first time in the following matches:
- Fortuna Düsseldorf – SSV Ulm 1846 Football (Saturday, 1 February, 1:00 p.m. CET)
- FC Bayern Munich – Holstein Kiel (Saturday, 1 February, 3:00 p.m. CET)
- FC St. Pauli – FC Augsburg (Saturday, 1 February, 3:30 p.m. CET)
- Eintracht Frankfurt – VfL Wolfsburg (Sunday, 2 February, 3:30 p.m. CET)
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen – TSG Hoffenheim (Sunday, 2 February, 5:30 p.m. CET)
Ansgar Schwenken, DFL Director of Match Operations & Fans: “With this test phase, we want to further increase the transparency of referee decisions and ensure greater understanding among the fans. Spectators in the stadium and in front of the screens will gain a deeper insight into the referee’s decision-making process following an intervention by the video assistant. The DFL Football Commission and DFB Schiri GmbH have jointly developed an important project here.”
Knut Kircher, Managing Director of DFB Schiri GmbH: “Despite all the controversial discussions surrounding the video assistant, we want to continue working with the DFL and its clubs to help make referees’ decisions in the stadium more transparent. We see the “Public Announcement” as a first clear step towards more clarification and have trained the procedures conscientiously with our referees. We are therefore confident that we can successfully support this new procedure, even if it will be unfamiliar at first.”
Further information can be found in a detailed video and in the FAQ.
What is the objective of the project?
The objective of the project is to further increase the transparency of referee decisions in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 – both for stadium spectators and television viewers. The reasons for an intervention by the video assistant and the subsequent final decision by the referee are not always immediately clear to all stadium spectators. Stadium announcements are therefore intended to counteract this lack of information by letting the referee explain the reasons for the video assistant’s intervention and his final decision.
Who initiated the project?
The project was initiated by the DFL Football Commission, which is made up of club representatives. The DFL Executive Committee unanimously decided to introduce the pilot project at its meeting on 10 September 2024. The preparations were carried out in close coordination between the DFL and DFB Schiri GmbH.
When will the referee address the audience?
There are two situations in which the audience will hear him:
A: When he has gone to the monitor to review a decision.
B: When he changes a decision based on the information provided by VAR.How does the referee address the audience?
He releases his headset by pressing a button. He can then be heard over the stadium loudspeaker.
What will the referee say to the audience?
He will inform the audience about:
1. The incident that has been reviewed.
2. The result of the review.
3. The final decision.Can the referee’s announcement also be heard by television viewers?
Yes, the announcement will also be integrated into the live broadcast of the media partners.
Will the video assist graphic continue to be shown on the stadium screens?
Yes, the video assist graphic with the familiar text modules “Situation – Review – Decision” will continue to be displayed.
In which stadiums will the project be trialled?
The pilot project will initially be used at selected Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 venues. The following clubs have voluntarily agreed to take part in the test phase: FC Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Fortuna Düsseldorf, SpVgg Greuther Fürth, FC St. Pauli.
How were the clubs selected?
All clubs involved in the pilot project were represented on the Football Commission at the start of the preparatory phase in autumn 2024. Participation is on a voluntary basis.
How long will the pilot phase last?
The pilot phase starts on Matchday 20 and will run until the end of the season. The test phase will therefore consist of a total of 67 matches.
Will the “Public Announcement” be introduced in all stadiums for the 2025-26 season?
At the end of the test phase, a comprehensive evaluation of the project will take place before a decision is made on whether to introduce it in regular match operations.
Will a match interruption then last even longer?
Yes, the interruption of play will be slightly longer due to the announcement. However, this serves to increase the transparency of referee decisions in the stadium. Statistically, the video assistant referee only intervenes once every three matches, which would equal the same amount of a referee announcements in the future.
When will moving images be shown on the stadium screens?
There are currently no plans to show video clips on the stadium screens to resolve a match scene. In this context, it is particularly important to note that a full season with matches in 18 stadiums brings along several organisational and technological challenges. Whether and when the clubs will address the issue is not foreseen at this point in time.