Coach Bruno Labbadia from the Bundesliga soccer club VfB Stuttgart is not a friend of the video referee. “We have to make sure that we leave the emotions in football,” said the 56-year-old one day before the Swabians’ game on Friday evening at RB Leipzig (8:30 p.m. / DAZN). “I was very critical of the VAR right from the start. Yes, it’s probably fairer because of him. But for me, football is emotions. I hate it when a goal is scored and you have to watch for five minutes to see if I’ve scored a goal did or not.”
For him, the video referee means “a lot falls by the wayside,” said Labbadia. “Behind the pictures there are people. It’s not a robot and mistakes are made there too.”
In the 2-2 draw at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim last Tuesday, VfB midfielder Naouirou Ahamada saw his first yellow card for complaining. The alleged elbow strike by Ahamada’s opponent immediately before in his face had not been punished. Later, the 20-year-old was sent off the field with a yellow-red card after he illegally celebrated the opening goal on the step in front of the guest block. With the first yellow card, he could understand his protégé’s complaints, said Labbadia.
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