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VAR set for more criticism after bizarre half-time fiasco in Mainz-Freiburg clash

VAR confusion reigned in the Bundesliga on Monday evening as Mainz and Freiburg players had to be recalled from the half-time break after a penalty was belatedly awarded.

Referee Guido Winkmann blew his whistle to signal the end of the opening 45 minutes of the match, with players from both sides leaving the pitch for the interval.

But a VAR intervention saw Winkmann call the players back from the dressing rooms after a handball by Freiburg defender Marc-Oliver Kempf was spotted on video replays.

After a lengthy delay, Pablo De Blasis stepped up to take the spot-kick for Mainz, beating Alexander Schwolow in the seventh minute of stoppage time to open the scoring for his side.