The German soccer league (DFL) on Wednesday revealed details of its plan to introduce video evidence in the Bundesliga. In an interview with kicker, CEO Andreas Rettig said the Germanfirst division could introduce goal-line technology and video evidence in the future. While goal-line technology is in use in other leagues including England’s Premier League, the introductionof video evidence through a fifth referee would be a first for major European league. According to Rettig, the DFL wants to use a fifth official to monitor controversies from nine different angles,who would then be able to contact the referee by radio.
ESPN notes that the idea follows in the footsteps of a pilot project introduced in the Dutch Eredivisie last year. “It’s important thatthe character of the game does not change and the referee remains the sovereign on the pitch,” Rettig said. “He makes the final decision. The video technology takes over an additional assistant role.The Dutch proposition says that a decision has to be made within 15 seconds. He added that the idea was “only about minimizing evident wrong calls.”