Players forced to return from half-time break as VAR mars Bundesliga clash

VAR confusion reigned in the Bundesliga as Mainz and Freiburg players had to be recalled from the half-time break after a penalty was belatedly awarded.

Referee Guido Winkmann blew his whistle to signal the end of the opening 45 minutes of Monday’s match, with players from both sides leaving the pitch for the interval.

But a VAR intervention saw Winkmann call the players back from the dressing rooms after a handball by Freiburg defender Marc-Oliver Kempf was spotted on video replays.

After a lengthy delay, Pablo De Blasis stepped up to take the spot-kick for Mainz, beating Alexander Schwolow in the seventh minute of stoppage time to open the scoring for his side.

Supporters also forced the game to be paused by throwing rolls of toilet paper on to the pitch as a protest against the Bundesliga’s introduction of matches on Monday nights.

Total confusion in the OPEL ARENA. #VideoAssist comes into play after the players have left the pitch for half time!

(45′) #M05SCF 0-0

— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) April 16, 2018

Premier League clubs have voted against introducing VAR technology for next season, preferring to continue with tests.

LaLiga, however, has opted to bring in VAR for 2018-19, while lawmakers have given the green light for video replays to be used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.