\n<\/p>\n
A masked fan unplugged a video assistant referee (VAR) monitor in a German second division match on Sunday as the referee was went to the pitchside screen to check a penalty award.<\/b><\/p>\n
The incident occurred at the end of the first half of Preussen Munster’s 2-1 home defeat by Hertha Berlin in Bundesliga 2.<\/p>\n
VAR had intervened and referee Felix Bickel was asked to review the incident on a pitchside monitor, but found the screen blank.<\/p>\n
“A masked spectator from the active fan section illegally entered the pitch and unplugged the technical equipment,” Preussen Munster said in a statement., external<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n With Bickel unable to make the call, the decision was left to the VAR official Katrin Rafalski in Cologne, ruling that it was a foul and for Bickel to award a penalty, which Hertha scored.<\/p>\n “Preussen Munster regrets the incident and will do everything in its power to identify and bring the perpetrator(s) to justice,” the club added,<\/p>\n “Furthermore, immediate measures have been taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Initial findings indicate that this was a planned action – a banner to that effect was displayed in the home section shortly after the technical malfunction.”<\/p>\n German media reported that a banner reading “Pull the plug on VAR” was displayed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n