A holistic approach to officiating services in the Bundesliga!

The collaboration between DFL, Schiri GmbH, and Sportec Solutions in the area of Officiating Services sets international standards.

Internationally, the Bundesliga is considered a pioneer in integrating innovative technologies into refereeing. The holistic approach pursued by the German Football League (DFL) together with DFB Schiri GmbH and its strategic technology partner Sportec Solutions is a key success factor. Technological systems such as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Goal Line Technology (GLT), and Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) are understood and further developed as part of an integrated officiating ecosystem, rather than being treated as isolated components.

The continuous improvement of efficiency, precision, and transparency in refereeing is the declared goal of this collaboration, with Sportec Solutions playing a central role — not only as a technical service provider but as an equal partner in the design, implementation, and further development of the systems. The technical integration of all Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga stadiums, the operation of the VAC (Video Assist Center) in Cologne, and the central data processing and distribution are all handled from a single source. This ensures uniform technical standards and seamless communication across all matches.

What makes this cooperation special is the close combination of cutting-edge technical know-how, sporting expertise, and years of operational experience. Sportec Solutions stands for technical excellence and continuously advances quality assurance and innovation — for example, through the use of AI-supported analysis tools and the intelligent evaluation of usage data for process optimization.

Thanks to this coordinated interaction, the Bundesliga succeeds in establishing technology-based officiating services not only as a means of error prevention but as an integral part of modern match management. This model sets standards for national and international competitions and underscores the Bundesliga's ambition to take a leading role both technologically and organizationally.

Sportec Solutions' referee technology is also used in other national competitions. In the DFB Cup, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used from the round of 16 onwards. If matches are still being played in stadiums below the 2nd Bundesliga from the round of 16 onwards, the VAR will not be operated from the VAC in Cologne, but will be managed locally on site. Goal Line Technology can be used in all Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga stadiums, regardless of the round of the competition. For women's soccer, Sportec Solutions' VAR and GLT were most recently used in the final of the DFB Cup for women and in the Women's Super Cup.