If you’ve ever watched a Bundesliga match and wondered, “Do they use VAR here?”, the short answer is yes — Bundesliga has VAR, and it’s been part of German top-flight football since the 2017/18 season. AntiKick will take you through what that means: how VAR works in the league, its history, recent changes, controversies, and where it’s headed.
What is VAR and how it works in the Bundesliga
“VAR” stands for Video Assistant Referee. It’s a system to help on-field referees make better decisions by reviewing video footage of certain types of incidents. In the Bundesliga, VAR reviews happen.
Here are the kinds of situations VAR is allowed to check:
- Goals
- Penalty decisions (awarded or not)
- Direct red card incidents
- Mistaken identity (if the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player)
The process: if the VAR in the VAC spots something clearly wrong, or if there’s a challenge to a decision by an on-field official, they communicate. The referee can accept the VAR’s advice or review the footage themselves using a pitch-side monitor before making the final call. Bundesliga’s VAR rules are aligned with the IFAB Laws of the Game.
History: When did Bundesliga adopt VAR?
The Bundesliga started using VAR in the 2017/18 season. That means for over seven years now, Germany’s top league has video assistance in place to reduce major officiating errors. The second division (2. Bundesliga) followed two seasons later.
The VAR center was based in Cologne — often known informally (and with a touch of humor) as the “Kölner Keller” — because that was where the Video Assist Center for Bundesliga matches was located.
Recent and upcoming changes
VAR in the Bundesliga isn’t static. Several developments are underway or planned to make it more transparent, efficient, and modern.
- Move of the VAR center: Starting in the 2026/27 season, the VAR decision center will leave Cologne and move to the DFB Campus in Frankfurt. The reasons include needing more space, modern facilities, room for training and media, and improving overall operations.
- Semi-automated offside technology: This will be incorporated as part of the technical improvements. These systems aim to speed up offside decisions and make them more accurate. Bundesliga plans to adopt things like this in upcoming seasons.
- More transparency: There’s a pilot project where referees will announce VAR decisions via stadium loudspeakers, so fans in the stands know what was reviewed and why a decision was changed (or upheld). This is being tested in selected matches.
Controversies, benefits, and fan reactions
Benefits
- Fairer results: Some decisions that would have been clear mistakes are now caught — offsides, missed penalties, wrong red cards. This increasestice in the game.
- Reduced human error, especially in fast, high-stakes moments where referees can’t see everything.
- Support for referees, who often get intense criticism for missed calls; VAR gives them a backup.
Challenges and controversies
- Disruption of game flow: Reviewing decisions leads to pauses, which some fans find frustrating.
- Subjectivity remains: Even with replays, many decisions hinge on judgment.
- Transparency & clarity: Before recent steps, many VAR calls were opaque — fans and sometimes players didn’t clearly know what was being reviewed or why decisions leaned one way.
Fan reaction
Fans are mixed. Many appreciate the corrections and fairness. Others still moan about delays, changing momentum, and “decisions that should be obvious anyway.” The recent move to have stadium announcements is in part due to fan demand for clarity.
How Bundesliga’s VAR compares to other leagues
Bundesliga’s implementation of VAR is considered among the more mature in Europe, both for its infrastructure and for how it’s evolving:
- The centralised hub (VAC) model is similar to what other top leagues use.
- Germany is embracing semi-automated offside and is moving the center to newer facilities, which shows long-term investment.
- The stadium announcement pilot mirrors moves in other leagues (e.g. England) to improve understanding among fans.
So in many ways, Bundesliga isn’t just using VAR — it’s refining and expanding it.
Key statistics and facts
Here are some quick facts about VAR in Bundesliga:
- First used in Bundesliga: 2017/18 season.
- Bundesliga followed approximately two seasons later.
- VAC based in Cologne until end of 2025/26 season.
- Move to DFB Campus in Frankfurt begins 2026/27 season.
- Pilot project ongoing for stadium announcements of decisions.
Conclusion
Does Bundesliga have VAR? — absolutely. It has been an integral part of Germany’s top-tier football since 2017/18, and it keeps growing, improving, and responding to the needs of fairness and transparency.
At AntiKick, we believe this evolution matters: VAR may never be perfect, but Bundesliga’s enhancements — new tech, clearer communication, better facilities — mean fewer big mistakes and more trust.
If you’re curious to dig deeper, here’s what to do next:
- Watch a Bundesliga match and pay attention to how VAR is used (see if there’s a delay, check what’s announced).
- Compare with another league’s VAR usage — e.g. Premier League, La Liga — to see differences.
- Keep an eye on Bundesliga news around the 2026/27 season, especially the move to Frankfurt and how semi-automated offside decisions roll out.
Want me to break down how VAR has affected major matches, or, say, its impact on Bayern vs Dortmund games? Just say the word!
