Video Assist Centre opened in Cologne
20 July 2017 – Four weeks before the start of the 2017/18 Bundesliga season, the DFL presented its new VAR Centre, based in Cologne. It is from there the referees of the 306 Bundesliga matches during the upcoming season will receive VAR support. Six Video Assistant Referees can work simultaneously in the studio, which measures approximately 100 square metres and is located in the Cologne Broadcasting Centre (CBC). Completion marks the next step in the joint-DFL-German Football Association (DFB) large-scale project, which is part of the two-year test phase that runs through to 2018 under the auspices of FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for the sport’s rules.
“We feel well prepared and are looking forward to football in the next Bundesliga season being fairer with the implementation of VAR,” said Ansgar Schwenken, DFL Director of Football Affairs & Supporters and DFL GmbH Management Board member, whose confidence is born of 127 offline tests and 114 pre-live tests carried out last season. “All 23 Bundesliga referees from last season are prepared as well as possible and will be used as video assistants in the new season.”
With the innovation, the number of erroneous decisions should be reduced. VAR is not a panacea, however, and will be used only in four game situations: goals, penalties, red cards and cases of mistaken identity.
The Video Assistant Referee will be supported by two operators, who will have all camera angles in the stadium available and immediately prepare images for the VAR to facilitate an optimal decision. On every Matchday, the VAR will also be supported by a supervisor with whom he can discuss the decision when needed. The technical implementation is in collaboration with Hawk-Eye, also known for the introduction of goalline technology for the 2015/16 season.
The agreement of the DFL’s Media Partners before the first use of the VAR at the 2017 Supercup between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern München at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is an important aspect of the project. “Fans’ acceptance of TV pictures worldwide is, as far as we are concerned, essential to the success of VAR,” said Dr. Holger Blask, DFL Director of Audiovisual Rights and DFL GmbH Management Board member. To this end, there have been intensive discussions between the DFL’s subsidiaries Sportcast and DFL Digital Sports, and national and international media partners, who will be provided with various graphics to indicate the use of VAR. “It’s all about rendering the decision-making process transparent and resolving decisions in a way that is clear and understandable for everyone,” Dr. Holger Blask added. “That is our primary concern.”
Bundesliga referee Sascha Stegemann is also optimistic given the success of the test phase: “Last year was fantastic. It was a lot of fun to go into completely unchartered territory and take this project forward.” The 32-year-old added: “We have undergone an enormous learning process in the last year, worked very intensively, and we are looking forward to getting the project underway for real.”
In 306 Bundesliga encounters last season, there were a total of 104 game-related mistakes, 77 of which could have been resolved by the use of VAR.
