Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has criticized the recent passivity of the video assistant referee system ahead of his team’s Bundesliga top match against FC Bayern Munich. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Kovac argued that VAR has been too reluctant to intervene in matches over recent weeks and called for top-tier officiating at the Allianz Arena.
Why is Niko Kovac criticizing the video assistant referee system?
The 55-year-old Dortmund coach voiced his frustration over several uncorrected decisions during recent fixtures, pointing directly to the DFB-Pokal match against Werder Bremen. During that game, referee Robert Schröder awarded Bremen a penalty in the 64th minute after a challenge involving BVB defender Julian Ryerson and Werder’s Mick Schmetgens. Niclas Füllkrug converted the spot-kick to spark a Bremen comeback before Dortmund ultimately secured a 3:2 victory through a late Marcel Sabitzer free-kick. Kovac insisted after the match that the incident did not warrant a penalty, telling reporters that he has been in football long enough to recognize when a foul has not occurred. He added on Thursday that the reluctance of the VAR team in Cologne to step in and correct such mistakes is a recurring and incorrect trend.
What did Niko Kovac say about the upcoming Klassiker against Bayern Munich?
Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich enter Saturday’s encounter in the Allianz Arena level on 17 points at the summit of the Bundesliga table. Kovac emphasized that while he wants to leave authority on the pitch with the officials, he expects an elite standard of performance from both the on-field referee and the video assistant referee. The DFB assigned FIFA referee Tobias Stieler to manage the fixture after the originally planned official, Daniel Siebert, was sidelined due to a calf injury. Stieler brings extensive experience to the high-stakes clash, having previously officiated 38 matches involving Borussia Dortmund, of which the club won 24. In head-to-head Klassiker matches under Stieler’s supervision, Bayern has recorded two victories, Dortmund one, and one match ended in a draw.
How did the referee response unfold in Bremen?
The post-match fallout in the DFB-Pokal victory over Werder Bremen featured an unusual pitchside exchange between Kovac and referee Robert Schröder. As Schröder and his officiating team walked past the mixed-zone interview area, the BVB coach used the moment to question the penalty decision directly with a raised finger. When Schröder did not engage in a detailed discussion during the brief encounter, Kovac smiled and ended the exchange. Despite the dramatic sequence, Kovac stressed in his pre-match media briefing that his focus remains entirely on sporting preparation for the clash in Munich rather than dwelling on past controversies.
When and where does the Klassiker take place?
The Bundesliga fixture between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund kicks off on Saturday evening at 18:30 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
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