Referees, video review in Germany under scrutiny after high-profile errors

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's referees are under scrutiny after a plethora of questionable decisions and incorrect calls compounded by anger over the video assistant referees' failure to correct them.

It's leading to widespread frustration among players and coaches, while fans' patience is tested by lengthy VAR checks that don’t always bring clarity, or contentious calls that aren't checked at all.

The latest example came in the German Cup on Wednesday when Leipzig was aggrieved not to be awarded at least a free kick after Bayern Munich defender Josip Stanisic clearly fouled Antonio Nusa on the edge of the penalty area early in Bayern's 2-0 win.

"It's absolutely crazy," Leipzig coach Ole Werner said. "If four people can't see that as a foul then it's not quarterfinal level, I'm sorry."

Bayern also had a questionable call go its way in the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim last weekend, when defender Kevin Akpoguma was sent off early. There was no VAR intervention.

The previous weekend, there were contentious decisions in Bundesliga games between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen, Leipzig and Mainz, Hoffenheim and Union Berlin, and Augsburg's match against St. Pauli.

Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj called for VAR to be scrapped altogether after he was incorrectly penalized in the subsequent game against Mainz. A minutes-long delay for VAR failed to correct referee Patrick Ittrich's erroneous call. Ittrich acknowledged his mistake after the match but by then it was too late.

"The biggest problem is there’s no common denominator," Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said. "Whoever is sitting in the studio or whoever is refereeing has a different perception and that makes it difficult. Regardless of who's sitting there the decisions should be consistent."