Augsburg head coach Manuel Baum denied having ‘VAR Angst’ after his team narrowly secured three points against Heidenheim in Sunday’s Bundesliga home game. One rather tied case was decided by a penalty awarded in the 79th minute. Heidenheim defender Benedikt Gimber pulled on the jersey of Augsburg captain Keven Schlotterbeck in the area. Schlotterbeck fell to the ground and the match referee, Felix Zwayer, immediately pointed to the spot.
After what Augsburg experienced last week in Mainz, there was a general feeling that the video-assisted referees of the Bundesliga’s “Kölner Keller” would once again rule against it. the Fuggerstädter. Baum – who was unable to see Alexis Claude Maurice win what would prove the 1-0 winner – was asked about his inability to see Claude Maurice on site during the post-match press conference.
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What happened last week?
Augsburg lost 2-0 away to relegation rivals Mainz via two penalties converted by Nadiem Amiri. Even though the second penalty was not debatable, the scene at the MEWA Arena in the 5th minute sparked a very controversial debate. FCA midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj fought in the area against Mainz defender Stefan Bell. Match official Patrick Ittrich awarded a penalty when Bell fell to the ground
Ittrich was not called on the field video screen, although replays could not confirm there was contact. Rexhbecaj attempted to play the ball, but appeared to miss both the ball and Bell. Both Baum and Rexhbecaj denounced this “phantom foul” after the match. Ittrich himself questioned this decision. Augsburg fans and the German press went wild.
“It is completely incomprehensible that the referee does not walk towards the screen and the decision is not overturned. Baum pointed this out during the postgame press conference last week. “You can’t see any contacts in any of the images. If no contact is visible on the images, the decision is maintained. It’s ridiculous. No one can explain to me how one can arrive at such a conclusion.»
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“Even with a magnifying glass, we don’t see any contract,“, added Rexhbecaj in the mixed zone. “VAR seems to upset everyone. It’s better not to have it. Back to human error. There are still errors. We get angry like before. End of story. Making poor decisions based on images is not acceptable. A lot of money is spent on video technology. You can zoom in, look at it from all angles. And yet there are far too many decisions that are simply wrong.“
“I saw that Rexhbecaj came in hard and there was clear contact with his foot,“Ittrich said Sky Germany. “I heard it too. The players around him all heard the noise too. For me it was a clear penalty.“
But after seeing the images, Ittrich changed his tune.
“When I see the pictures I have to say I guess it’s not a penalty,” said Ittrich. “But I’m grateful VAR didn’t intervene. I heard the contract. Decisions on the ground should be maintained.“
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Augsburg Kurve supports Rexhbecaj
The Augsburg ultras of the famous Ulrich-Biesinger-Tribune made their feelings known before kick-off at the WWK Arena on Saturday afternoon, unfurling dozens of banners protesting VAR. Other hand-scribbled banners were waved throughout the match, almost all of them insulting technology in creative (and sometimes vulgar) terms.
It is worth noting that every German FanKurve has a “Videobeweis abschaffen” (“Eliminate VAR”) banner which is raised in the lower center section of the ultra section every time a VAR review takes place. Whether or not the VAR decision benefits the supported team, the familiar logo invariably remains next to the main leader of the central chant.
This coordinated effort was something else.
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Manuel Baum denies being nervous
“From my point of view, I saw that it was not debatable,Baum remarked with a wry smile during the post-match press conference.The referee had a very clear view of the scene. He was only a few meters away. I didn’t have any (questionable thoughts).
“(I didn’t watch) because it’s some kind of ritual,“Baum continued.”Even though I trust my players to convert, I can still trust them without looking directly at them.“
