If you were frustrated with VAR calls in the Premier League this season, just wait until you see this from Germany...
There's seemingly no escaping VAR for footballers this season - as Holstein Kiel substitute Michael Eberwein found out on Friday.
The attacking midfielder was warming-up behind the goal when he stopped a shot that had been dragged wide and knocked it back into play for the goal kick.
Nothing wrong with that, so it seemed. However, Eberwein had made contact with ball before it had left the field of play, an incident picked up by a look from VAR.
That led to referee Timo Gerach pointing to the penalty spot, which saw an equaliser for Bochum through striker Silvere Ganvoula, who had missed with his initial effort moments earlier.
To make matters worse, that was Eberwein's first touch since he made the summer switch from Regionalliga West side Fortuna Koln.
It didn't have a huge impact on the final result in the end, with Kiel scoring early into the second-half to secure a 2-1 victory and move up to 10th in the 2. Bundesliga standings.
While VAR continues to split opinion - the FIFA rules of the game state that the referee was correct with his decision.
Point 4 - Restart of play after fouls and misconduct states: 'If a substitute, substituted or sent off player, player temporarily off the field of play or team official throws or kicks an object onto the field of play and it interferes with play, an opponent or match official, play is restarted with a direct free kick (or penalty kick) where the object interfered with play or struck or would have struck the opponent, match official or the ball.'
The end result was ultimately a positive one for Eberwein and his Kiel team mates, but it does serve as a warning to everyone else - VAR is always watching.
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