Krösche too rails against VAR system: "This is a joke."
In what shapes up to be the unavoidable theme off the 2022/23 German Bundesliga's 12th matchday, Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche had to let off his bit of steam about the performance of the VAR team handling his side's Saturday night fixture against Dortmund.
Robert Andrich lashed out at match official Sven Jablonski after his team's loss to Leverkusen. Practically everyone in Augsburg colors had to get their views in on a missed handball penalty after Stuttgart took all three points. Even in victory, FC Bayern München keeper Sven Ulreich couldn't help but take a swipe at Benjamin Cortus and the VAR team responsible for the Mainz match when he was penalized for unintentionally swiping Jonathan Burkardt's face in the box.
Indeed, it has been quite the weekend for cragginess in the Bundesliga. On-pitch and VAR room officiating errors will serve as major talking points after the current round is concluded. Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche took his turn after his side's 1-2 defeat to Frankfurt. At issue in this case was a clear push in the back of Jesper Lindstrøm by Karim Adeyemi in the 42nd minute with the score level at 1-1.
"The situation in the first half is was a clear penalty," a visibly irritated Krösche said afterwards, "He [match official Sascha Stegemann] has to whistle. If he doesn't see it [the foul], he has to ask [the VAR team]."
"I don't know whether he did ask in the end, but these things are really beginning to get on my nerves," the SGE administrator continued, "If you have assistants, then ask them. That's what we have them for. It's a joke the way things are now."
"We've had this situation many times this season," Krösche carried on, "we've talked about it 840 times now with the clubs and referees. But I have no idea, I don't know what they're doing, how they're using it. One time they do, one time they don't."
Krösche concluded with a plea.
"We don't need [VAR] if we're going to do it like this," he summed up, "In this case, I'd rather let the referee take care of it himself. That way it's not an issue if there's a wrong decision. It's just human nature."
In his own post-match interview, referee Stegemann actually admitted that the incorrect call was made. The 37-year-old cited his view from the pitch and said he would directly consult with the VAR team as to why he wasn't notified to take another look.