Former national team coach Vogts proposes changes to the use of VAR

European Football Championship - Former national team coach Vogts proposes changes to the use of VAR

Former national player and Bundestrainer Berti Vogts suggested a rule change after the handball incident during Germany's EURO 2024 quarter-final elimination against Spain. "Perhaps every team should be allowed to call the VAR once per half-time to check a decision, as is common in other sports," wrote the 77-year-old in a column for the "Rheinische Post."

Spanish player Marc Cucurella received a shot from Jamal Musiala in the penalty area, but English referee Anthony Taylor and his team did not call for a penalty. Germany lost 1:2.

"Justice and fairness stepped on with feet"

"I am deeply frustrated with the referee. I can't understand why he didn't look at the video images again in that handball scene," wrote Vogts. "Why is there all this technology if everything is questioned every time there's an objection, and in the most important scene of the entire tournament for the German team and the EM host, nothing happens?"

Vogts, who led Germany to the European Championship title as coach in 1996, also stated: "It's about justice, it's about fairness, both were trampled here."

Sportingly, things were going in the right direction for the German team. However, there was still a long way back to the world class. "It's essential that the DFB critically examines everything once more: the work of academies in the Bundesliga, our own coach education - what do the Spaniards or the French do better, why are they superior to us in major games, why do they have so many players at world-class level?" wrote Vogts.

"Nagelsmann should call the club trainers together before the Bundesliga start to discuss the To-do-List with regard to the WM."

1. Berti Vogts, hailing from Baden-Württemberg and a former national player and Bundestrainer, suggested a rule change following Germany's EURO 2024 quarter-final elimination against Spain.
2. Vogts, now 77, proposed that each team should be permitted to call the VAR once per half-time to review decisions, a practice common in other sports, in a column for the "Rheinische Post."
3. The disagreement stemmed from a handball incident during the match, where German player Jamal Musiala shot at Spanish player Marc Cucurella in the penalty area, but English referee Anthony Taylor failed to call for a penalty.
4. The game ended in a 1:2 defeat for Germany, leaving Vogts deeply frustrated with the referee's decision and the apparent lack of use of technology when critical calls were needed.
5. Vogts highlighted Germany's need for justice and fairness, stating that both had been trampled during the crucial scene of the tournament for the German team and the EM host.
6. As Germany strives to return to world-class soccer, Vogts recommended a critical evaluation of the Bundesliga academies, coach education, and identifying strengths and weaknesses compared to other European nations like Spain and France.
7. Vogts suggested that current DFB coach Nagelsmann should gather his Bundesliga club trainer counterparts before the Bundesliga start to discuss the team's preparation and objectives ahead of the World Cup.

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