'This is disturbing!' - Bundesliga referee reveals what he really thinks of VAR after long reviews cause controversy in Borussia Dortmund clash 'This is disturbing!' - Bundesliga referee reveals what he really thinks of VAR after long reviews cause controversy in Borussia Dortmund clash

• VAR intervened three times during Dortmund win
• Review of disallowed Kral goal lasted several minutes
• The referee spoke about the issue afterwards

WHAT HAPPENED? VAR officials took four minutes to determine whether or not Union Berlin midfielder Alex Kral was onside when he headed the ball into the net during the weekend's Bundesliga clash with Dortmund. The decision eventually came that he was positioned beyond defender Mats Hummels.

WHAT THEY SAID: "The offside decisions are mostly factual, it just took a little long today because something wasn't right with the calibrated lines. And we simply have to ensure safety over speed so that nothing slips through our fingers and then we just have to wait so long," Ittrich told reporters in the mixed zone.

"This is disturbing. I can understand the fans' displeasure. In the end, the right decision is important. But I'm very annoyed myself. I should have recognised it myself straight away."

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Kral's header in the 18th minute would have put Union Berlin into a 2-1 lead. As it was, they did go ahead soon after through Leonardo Bonucci, before Dortmund scored three unanswered goals. VAR also intervened twice more in the first half alone, ruling out a Dortmund goal for offside and awarding the penalty that Bonucci converted.

IN THREE PHOTOS:

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WHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND? After a fourth Bundesliga win on the bounce, Dortmund will look to make it five after the international break when they face Werder Bremen at home on October 20. Five days later, they will travel to Newcastle in the Champions League.