Basement in Cologne Ends Use of Video Evidence in Previous Season - Evidence from videos recorded in a cellar during the previous season in Cologne
The Video Assist Center (VAC), a crucial component of football refereeing in Germany, is set to relocate from Cologne to the DFB campus in Frankfurt am Main in the 2026/27 season.
Knut Kircher, the managing director of the DFB referee GmbH, has explained that the move is necessary due to the current VAC in Cologne reaching its limits and being unable to expand. The need for improved transparency is also a consideration in the move.
The DFB campus in Frankfurt am Main is the headquarters of the German Football Association, making the move "obvious" according to Kircher. Integrating the new VAC into the DFB campus will provide new opportunities for Germany's professional referees, offering rooms for meetings, training, staying, changing, media work, and visitors on match days.
The VAC in Frankfurt am Main will mark a departure from the "Cologne basement," a term often used by the public to refer to the current VAC location. The video assistant has been in operation in the Bundesliga since the 2017/2018 season, and in the 2. Bundesliga two years later.
The move to the DFB campus comes as space requirements and professional demands have increased, necessitating the additional facilities. The relocation is scheduled for the 2026/27 season. For more precise reasons behind this move, it is recommended to check official releases from the German Football Association (DFB) or Cologne’s and Frankfurt’s football authorities.
- The new facilities at the DFB campus in Frankfurt am Main will not only provide enhanced training opportunities for Germany's professional referees, but also accommodate vocational training programs for aspiring referees, fostering a stronger community aid in the development of football refereeing.
- To foster a more integrated sports community within Germany, the relocated Video Assist Center in Frankfurt am Main could potentially collaborate with local European-leagues to offer vocational training in football refereeing, thereby expanding the reach and impact of the VAC's educational programs.
