Renewed VAR criticism in Germany after Mainz incident

Video refereeing (VAR) remains a big controversy in Germany's Bundesliga, with tempers flaring again after Sunday's Bundesliga game between Mainz and Hanover.

The system is to be used in the case of blatant mistakes from the referee in penalty, goal and red card situations and was a big success at the World Cup in Russia.

But in Germany debates have been raging about its correct use ever since the system was introduced for the previous season, and were reignited by what appeared to be a dive from Mainz player Jean-Pierre Mateta which resulted in a penalty to secure a late 1-1 draw.

Neither VAR in Cologne intervened nor did referee Robert Hartmann elect consult on the decision.

"If we don't rate this a dive in Cologne then we might as well stop and abolish the video assistant," Hanover coach Andre Breitenreiter said. "This has nothing to do with justice."

Hanover forward Niclas Fuellkrug said "video evidence remains a scandal."

The club's sports director Horst Heldt questioned the whole proceedings.

"It is about that referees should make no mistakes. The system and proceedings of the video evidence are bad," Heldt said.

Mainz had what appeared a late winner denied by VAR for offside while elsewhere Schalke got a penalty via VAR in Saturday's derby with leaders Borussia Dortmunnd - in contrast an earlier handball from Dortmund's Axel Witsel was deemed no offence.