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Bizarre scenes followed as one Munster fan took action amid growing anger over the use of VAR

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The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Five times a week Four Four Two Daily Fantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more. Once a week . .. And it’s LIVE! Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off! Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. In the eight years since football’s rule-making body IFAB approved the use of Video Assistant Referees, it’s perhaps an understatement to say that this use of technology in football is not everyone’s cup of tea. Whether it’s games being plagued by lengthy delays, the near-abolition of spontaneous goal celebrations or game-changing goals being ruled out due to a toenail being offside, the use of VAR is one of the least-popular introductions to the sport in recent years. Opposition so far has been largely limited to boos from unhappy fans, sarcastic X posts from club admins, plus the odd angrily-fired-off club statement, but over in Germany, supporters have found a new way to rally against VAR.

Preussen Munster were hosting Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga 2 on Sunday, when referee Felix Bickel was called to the monitor to review a potential penalty incident towards the end of the first half after he had initially waved away the Hertha pleas for a spot kick. But when he arrived there, he was greeted by a blank screen and was unable to review the footage. ? ? THE CRAZIEST INCIDENT OF 2026 ? ?In the German Second Division, two Münster fans stormed the pitch during their home match against Hertha Berlin and literally stole the VAR cable — causing the giant screen to go completely black! ? The referee was heading over to review… pic. twitter. com/X4Rk1CVPit March 8, 2026 This was not a case of a technical error, but rather an act of sabotage from a balaclava-wearing Munster supporter, who had managed to unplug the monitor and leave the official looking hapless in front of a black screen. With Bickel hamstrung, the VAR assistant in the video centre stepped in and made the decision to award Hertha a penalty, which Fabian Reese duly dispatched in first-half stoppage time. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. The warning signs had been there for the officials, given a banner in the crowd read ‘Pull the plug on VAR’, with German outlet Bild publishing a photo of the alleged balaclava-wearing supporter clambering back into the stands with the help of another disguised accomplice. A fired-up Munster side would equalise straight after half-time through Jannie Heuer, only for Marten Winkler to net a winner for Hertha in second-half stoppage time. Relegation-threatened Munster would release a statement following the final whistle, confirming they will investigate the incident and put measures in place to stop it happening again.

“In first-half stoppage time between SC Preußen Münster and Hertha BSC, VAR intervened after a controversial incident in the penalty area, ” their statement read. "However, the referee was unable to review the incident using the VAR monitor in the stadium because a masked spectator from the active fan section illegally entered the pitch and unplugged the technical equipment. "The penalty decision was ultimately made by video referee Katrin Rafalski in the VAR room in Cologne. SC Preußen Münster regrets the incident and will do everything in its power to identify and bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. Furthermore, immediate measures have been taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. "Initial findings indicate that this was a planned action – a banner to that effect was displayed in the home section shortly after the technical malfunction. " For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and Leeds Live among others and worked at Four Four Two throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

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