27.01.2025Bayer 04

At #B04TSG: Pilot project on announcement of referee decisions

Greater transparency of referee decisions: A pilot project on announcing referee decisions is being introduced with Matchday 20 in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. That was announced by the German Football League (DFL) in cooperation with the DFB Schiri GmbH on Monday. At selected fixtures until the end of the season, referees will explain their decisions in certain situations on the pitch via stadium PA systems. One of the matches selected is the Bayer 04 Bundesliga home game against TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday, 2 February (kick-off: 17.30 CET).

The pilot project has been initiated by the DFL football commission and developed in close cooperation with the DFL and DFB Schiri GmbH. It will be used at ten matches in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 on Matchdays 20 and 21.

A total of 67 games in the pilot phase up to the end of the season are to be used to evaluate to what extent the announcement of referee decisions can contribute to lasting increase in transparency at stadiums.

How it works:

The referee will speak to the crowd at the stadium when he reviews a decision at the monitor in the review area at the edge of the pitch – or if he changes a decision based on advice from the video assistant referee (VAR). The announcement will be made via the microphone on the referees headset and will be broadcast on the stadium PA system.

The referee will inform spectators about which incidents are being checked, the outcome of the review and the final decision. The announcement will be integrated into the live broadcast by media partners.

Further information is available HERE.

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