German Cup fans plan VAR protests over ‘spontaneous joy’ concerns

Fan groups from clubs across Germany are planning widespread protests against Video Assistant Referee technology during the opening round of the German Cup this weekend.

The first-round fixtures begin on Friday, and supporters are expected to stage protest actions at matches after several groups published joint statements criticising the use of VAR in German football.

The statements, released on Thursday, call for the technology to be abolished. They were issued under the title “VAR is robbing us of the joy of football”.

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The groups said VAR had “destroyed the most emotional moment of the game”.

“Instead of spontaneous joy after a goal, there is uncertainty about a possible review,” the statement continued.

It added: “We want to return to this state permanently and therefore demand the abolition of the Video Assistant Referee in German football.”

VAR is not used during the first round of the German Cup because of technical and other issues. The system has previously been introduced from the last-16 stage, but it will be brought in from the second round onwards this season.

The planned action is the latest example of organised fan activism in German football. Supporters have regularly protested in recent seasons against fixture scheduling and proposed investment agreements.

During the 2023-24 season, widespread demonstrations included fans throwing tennis balls and chocolate coins on to pitches. The campaign contributed to the abandonment of an investment deal, even though the proposal had received majority backing from clubs.

Those protests caused major delays to matches. Players criticised the disruption, while referees warned that fixtures could be abandoned if the action continued.

Supporters opposed to VAR argue that waiting for possible reviews changes the way goals are celebrated and removes the immediate emotional reaction traditionally associated with scoring.

The opening round of this season’s German Cup will feature recent winners Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt, who begin their campaigns against lower-league opposition on Friday.

Holders Bayern Munich will start their defence on 2 September. VAR will not be available during the first round, meaning the announced protests will take place at matches where the technology is absent from the competition’s officiating process.

The fan groups nevertheless want the debate over VAR to extend beyond the German Cup. Their joint demand is for the permanent removal of the technology from German football, reflecting wider concerns among supporters about the impact of video reviews on the matchday experience.

The protests are therefore expected to place renewed focus on the balance between reviewing refereeing decisions and preserving the spontaneity that fans associate with football.