February 28 – He may have successfully campaigned for the European Club Association, which he headed for nine years, to have a voice on UEFA’s decision-making executive committee but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is annoyed at the decision not to use video assistance in next year’s Champions League.
This week, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed that even if video assistant referees (VARs) are approved by football’s law-making body this weekend, Europe will not follow suit in its showpiece club competition.
Rummenigge feels the VAR system has been successful in improving the officiating of Bundesliga matches this season and speaking to FC Bayern TV, he expressed his disappointment at Ceferin’s stance.
“To be honest, I regret this decision, because I have seen in the Bundesliga that referees are making their decisions now vastly more seriously and also more fairly that what we have often experienced in the past,” said the Bayern chairman.
During last season’s Champions League quarter-finals, Bayern were on the wrong end of some questionable referring decisions against Real Madrid that ultimately helped Real advance. Arturo Vidal was sent after receiving a second yellow card for what appeared to be a clean tackle.
“I’m convinced that a game like the one we unfortunately experienced last year in Madrid would have ended with a different result, with different decisions,” said Rummenigge.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is leading the drive to introduce VARs at the World Cup and Rummenigge added: “I’m pleased that FIFA is more innovative than UEFA. Normally it’s often the other way around.”
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