After Offside Goal: Even Eberl Calls for Earlier VAR in Cup - Bayern's Cup Win Over Köln Highlights VAR's Absence
FC Bayern Munich's 3-2 victory over 1. FC Köln in the DFB Cup was marred by controversy, with VAR's absence playing a significant role. The match highlighted the challenges faced by referees without the technology, leading to calls for its earlier introduction in the competition. Bayern Munich benefited from VAR's absence when Luis Díaz's equalizing goal for Köln was incorrectly allowed, despite him being clearly offside. This incident sparked debate about the use of VAR in the DFB Cup. Currently, VAR is only used from the round of 16 onward due to lower-league clubs' lack of technical infrastructure. Max Eberl, Bayern's sporting director, and Lukas Kwasniok, Köln's coach, both agreed that referees may struggle with decisions in games where VAR is not used if they are accustomed to it throughout the season. Eberl went on to advocate for the earlier use of VAR, suggesting it could be implemented as early as the second round. However, he did not specify which teams should use it in the second round. The DFB Cup match between Bayern Munich and Köln has reignited the debate about VAR's role in the competition. With referees potentially at a disadvantage without the technology, calls for its earlier introduction have grown louder. The next steps in this discussion will likely involve balancing the needs of lower-league clubs with the desire for fair and accurate officiating.
