The first round of the DFB-Pokal is always a special weekend in German football, as lower-league clubs host Bundesliga giants in hopes of a famous upset, bringing communities together in improvised stadiums in small towns for their moment in the spotlight. For many German fans, the cup first round has become extra special in recent years because it doesn’t feature the despised video assistant referee (VAR) system. “Football as it should be!” was therefore the motto of this weekend’s nationwide campaign, which saw fans across the country demand the permanent abolition of VAR in German football.
Of course, “football as it should be” also means a vibrant fan culture and electrifying atmospheres, which is what SV Waldhof Mannheim and 1. FC Kaiserslautern delivered initially on Friday night – before both sets of supporters overstepped the mark, with predictable consequences.
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