“That’s a scandal” – Referee Felix Zwayer and VAR come under more scrutiny | OneFootball

As reported by Kicker, Referee Felix Zwayer and VAR came under intense scrutiny during Holstein Kiel’s relegation six-pointer clash with Bochum on Sunday afternoon.

The game ended in a 2-2 draw, which doesn’t do much in terms of the survival hopes for both sides. Kiel did think they’d taken the lead 15 minutes from time when Lewis Holtby rounded off a superb attack. The goal made it 3-2 to Kiel, having been trailing 1-2 at the break.

However, after a VAR review, Holtby was deemed to have hit a Bochum player in the face during the build-up for the goal.

Upon review, Holtby begins the attack by moving away from the defender when his trailing arm brushes the cheek of the opposition. A very harsh decision that when it happened in real time, no one appealed for a potential foul.

Kiel defender Timo Becker was left frustrated after the game: “The division of points doesn’t bring us anything, doesn’t really get the same thing to the Bochum.”

However, no one was left more outraged than the player that was penalised and thought they had scored what would have been the winner for Kiel.

Unfortunately, this is and has been a common occurrence with the introduction of VAR in football. The smallest of factors are being scrutinized to the finest margin. Holtby’s hand does brush the defender’s face, that is without question. Without applying common sense, it’s technically a foul.

However, is it enough contact to send someone hurling towards the ground? No, it isn’t.

Would the defender of been able to make a challenge on Holtby before he passed the ball? No, as he was behind his man, a tackle would have ended in a foul for Kiel.

Kiel and Holtby have every right to feel hard done by the decision. However, it’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last with the way VAR is being used in football.

GGFN | Jamie Allen