- Gladhof's team leader, Bonhof, aims to alter the visual proof.
Borussia Mönchengladbach leader Rainer Bonhof proposes an adjustment in the VAR regulation. "It would be more reasonable if, as a team, you get one or two opportunities per half to challenge a video review," the ex-player shared with "Bild", drawing comparisons from American football and basketball. "Should your appeal prove incorrect, that privilege is forfeit. If justified, your appeal privilege persists." In Bonhof's view, video referees should not intervene on their own.
"As a club, you hold the reins," Bonhof spoke out. "The fans would accept this." The on-field referee, according to him, "would then be backed up, no longer having the Cologne cellar intervene on its own." Bonhof further added, "The VAR would solely serve as the control gatekeeper if either team requests it."
Following Gladbach's initial loss against reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen, criticism towards the referees and the VAR emerged. Gladbach managed to level the score at 2:2, having initially trailed 0:2. Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz ultimately decided the contest in Leverkusen's favor in extra time (90.+11 minutes), scoring off a rebound from a missed penalty against Gladbach's Jonas Omlin. The only penalty awarded came after VAR intervention.
A potential goal from Gladbach's Tim Kleindienst just before halftime went unnoticed, despite the use of VAR (44.). Referee Robert Schröder personally studied the scene on the sidelines.
"Given the current controversy, introducing a system where Soccer teams get a limited number of challenges against VAR decisions during each half could be beneficial," Bonhof suggested."In such a scenario, if Gladbach had successfully challenged the decision not to award a penalty to Tim Kleindienst before half-time, it could have significantly impacted the outcome of the match against Bayer Leverkusen."
