Chaos erupted during a German football match when two masked individuals climbed down from the stands and disconnected the sideline review cable, preventing the referee from viewing slow-motion footage via the video assistance system. The referee then awarded a penalty based on advice from the control room, sparking debate after the game between Hertha Berlin and Preussen Munster.
On 9 March 2026, a chaotic incident occurred during the football match between Hertha Berlin and Preussen Munster when two masked individuals climbed down from the stands and unplugged the cable connected to the sideline review screen, causing the referee to be unable to view the usual replay footage on the screen.
The incident happened during a contentious moment inside the penalty area, where normally the referee would review slow-motion footage at the sideline screen. However, because the cable had been disconnected, the screen was unusable.
Ultimately, the referee had to rely solely on advice from the video assistant referee control room before deciding to award a penalty, despite not seeing the incident footage on the screen firsthand.
This event caused significant confusion and criticism in the stadium, raising concerns about security and protective measures around the referees' technological equipment. Authorities are investigating the identities of the two masked individuals and how they accessed the restricted area.
The match concluded with a victory for Hertha Berlin amid an atmosphere charged by the disruption caused by the incident.