‘Were they off getting beers?’: cult coach fumes after BVB win | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund narrowly wins against 1. FC Köln, but a controversial scene sparks major debate. Cult coach Peter Neururer lashes out harshly at the VAR after BVB’s victory.

The discussions about the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Bundesliga show no signs of stopping. After the controversial scene in the match between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Köln, veteran coach Peter Neururer has now spoken out with clear criticism.

The trigger for the debate is a scene from stoppage time in the match, which Dortmund won 2-1. After a handball by BVB defender Yan Couto in his own penalty area, a possible penalty whistle for 1. FC Köln was not given. Even the video assistant did not intervene, despite available TV footage. For Neururer, this is hardly understandable. The 70-year-old sharply criticized the decision and especially questioned the role of the VAR. “Once again, it was an incredibly exciting matchday, marked by strange decisions,” he told wettfreunde.net. He even described the non-intervention of the video assistant as “almost scandalous.”

In his view, numerous people involved could have recognized the handball. “In the stadium, those sitting near the curve saw it. Those on the pitch saw it,” Neururer said, pointing out that the referee may have had a poor perspective. That’s precisely why VAR was introduced in the first place.

VAR controversy in BVB match: Neururer criticizes Cologne’s video center

The fact that no hint came from the so-called Cologne video center still leaves the former Bundesliga coach completely baffled. “What were those gentlemen in Cologne doing? Did they fall asleep? Or had they already gone out, maybe to get a beer or something?” Neururer ranted.

Photo: IMAGO

In his opinion, the scene should have at least been reviewed. “You can’t overlook that. You have to take a look at it,” he made clear. The decision is especially bitter for Köln in their fight to stay in the league. A possible penalty could have earned FC another point—with correspondingly significant effects on the standings in the relegation battle.

The scene also caused anger within FC itself. Sporting director Thomas Kessler was at a loss and said after the match: “I don’t understand it. I don’t know what Benjamin Cortus was doing in the video center at that moment.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.