January 28 – In a move aimed at boosting transparency and fan engagement, the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga will trial public referee announcements during Matchday 20.
The pilot project, initiated by the German Football League’s (DFL) Football Commission – and developed in partnership with German Football Association (DFB) referees’ unit – will allow match officials to explain key decisions directly to stadium audiences for the first time.
Nine clubs across Germany’s top two divisions have volunteered to participate in the trial, including Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The process will apply specifically to instances where the referee has visited the pitchside monitor or overturned a decision based on video assistant intervention. These explanations will also be integrated into live broadcasts for media partners, ensuring fans at home gain the same clarity.
The first matches to feature this system will take place on February 1 and 2. The full schedule for the inaugural trial includes:
– Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. SSV Ulm 1846 (Saturday, 1 February, 1:00 p.m. CET)
– FC Bayern Munich vs. Holstein Kiel (Saturday, 1 February, 3:00 p.m. CET)
– FC St. Pauli vs. FC Augsburg (Saturday, 1 February, 3:30 p.m. CET)
– Eintracht Frankfurt vs. VfL Wolfsburg (Sunday, 2 February, 3:30 p.m. CET)
– Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. TSG Hoffenheim (Sunday, 2 February, 5:30 p.m. CET)
By offering real-time explanations, the DFL hopes to enhance fans’ understanding of the often-complex decisions made on the pitch and foster greater trust in refereeing processes.
Ansgar Schwenken, DFL Director of Match Operations & Fans, said: “With this test phase, we want to further increase the transparency of referee decisions and ensure greater understanding among the fans. Spectators in the stadium and in front of the screens will gain a deeper insight into the referee’s decision-making process following an intervention by the video assistant. The DFL Football Commission and DFB Schiri GmbH (referees’ unit) have jointly developed an important project here.”
Knut Kircher, Managing Director of DFB Schiri GmbH, added: “Despite all the controversial discussions surrounding the video assistant, we want to continue working with the DFL and its clubs to help make referees’ decisions in the stadium more transparent. We see the “Public Announcement” as a clear first step towards more clarification and have trained the procedures conscientiously with our referees. We are therefore confident that we can successfully support this new procedure, even if it will be unfamiliar at first.”
If successful, the initiative could see full implementation across Germany’s top divisions, providing a more transparent and inclusive experience for spectators in the stadium and at home.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1738251777labto1738251777ofdlr1738251777owedi1738251777sni@g1738251777niwe.1738251777yrrah1738251777