VAR, toilet paper steal the show in Mainz-Freiburg duel

Mainz (Germany) April 17 (IANS) FC Mainz prevailed 2-0 over SC Freiburg in a Bundesliga relegation duel that saw the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) signal a penalty after both sides had already gone to the dressing room for halftime.

The human referee Guido Winkmann blew the whistle after Freiburg cleared a Daniel Brosinski cross here on Monday night reports EFE news agency.

Moments later however the VAR detected a hand ball by a visiting defender and Winkmann had to recall the players to the pitch.

Pablo de Blasis converted from the spot to put the hosts up 1-0.

Following the break a group of fans showered one of the goals with rolls of toilet paper as part of continuing protests at stadia across Germany over the Bundesliga s decision to start scheduling matches on Monday night.

Freiburg never threatened and De Blasis made it 2-0 in the 79th minute courtesy of a mistake by visiting keeper Alexander Schwolow.

The outcome leaves both clubs with 30 points from 30 matches but Mainz climb out of the drop zone by virtue of a better goal differential over Freiburg who suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

--IANS
ajb/sac