Speaking ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga game against Mainz on Friday, Niko Kovač discussed the fundamental problems with VAR.
“It’s a difficult issue,” he told reporters at Wednesday’s press conference. “It’s certainly not easy, because the pressure currently being put on referees is very high.”
Offering an analysis, Kovač added: “The biggest problem is: We don’t have a common understanding.”
Matchday 21 was marred by controversial refereeing decisions. Referee Patrick Ittrich awarded Mainz a penalty against Augsburg after seeing contact between Stefan Bell and Elvis Rexhbeçaj. However, per Ruhr24, despite a ‘VAR review and unclear footage’, Ittrich’s decision stood, although he later admitted that ‘his perception was not confirmed.’
Going further in-depth about the problems with VAR, Kovač added: “Ideally, regardless of who’s sitting there, the decision should always be the same.
“One week you’re annoyed that something wasn’t called. The next week it’s decided differently and nobody understands the world anymore.”
