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A masked supporter unplugged the VAR monitor during Preusten Münster vs. Hertha BSC, disrupting a penalty review.
A Bundesliga 2 referee looks puzzled as the VAR was unplugged by fans (X)
A bizarre act of sabotage disrupted a 2. Bundesliga match on Sunday after a masked supporter unplugged the VAR monitor during the clash between Preussen Munster and Hertha BSC.
The incident occurred when referee Felix Bickel was called to review a potential penalty decision on the pitchside monitor. However, upon reaching the screen, he found it had been unplugged, leaving him staring at a blank display.
❌ VAR sabotage 🇩🇪This afternoon, during Hertha Berlin’s victory at Preußen Münster (2nd German division), two masked individuals came down from the stand and unplugged cables, preventing the referee from seeing the images on the screen. He therefore had to follow the… pic.twitter.com/5jYdMqcuMA
— Check VAR Ligue 1 (@ArbitreVAR) March 8, 2026
Planned Protest Against VAR
According to the club, a masked supporter managed to enter the restricted pitchside area and pull the power plug from the video assistant referee monitor.
German media reported that the act appeared coordinated with a protest from fans in the stands. Shortly after the technical malfunction, a banner was raised in the home section reading “Pull the plug on VAR.”
With the on-field monitor unusable, VAR official Katrin Rafalski, operating from the VAR hub in Cologne, was forced to make the decision remotely.
She determined that the challenge in question was a foul, prompting Bickel to award a penalty to Hertha Berlin, which the visitors converted.
The match still had more drama in store.
Marten Winkler struck three minutes into stoppage time to seal a 2–1 victory for Hertha Berlin, handing the sixth-placed side all three points.
Club Condemns Incident
Preußen Münster later issued a statement condemning the act and promising to identify those responsible.
“A masked spectator from the active fan section illegally entered the pitch and unplugged the technical equipment,” the club said.
“Preussen Munster regrets the incident and will do everything in its power to identify and bring the perpetrator(s) to justice.”
The club added that immediate measures have been introduced to prevent similar disruptions in future matches.
Initial investigations suggest the stunt may have been pre-planned, given the banner displayed by supporters immediately after the VAR monitor lost power.
Currently in just their second season back in the 2. Bundesliga, Preussen Munster sit 14th in the table, while historic German club FC Schalke 04 lead the standings as they push for a return to the Bundesliga.
(with Reuters inputs)
March 09, 2026, 8:28 PM IST
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