VIDEO: Masked fan unplugs VAR monitor to stop referee watching penalty incident in bizarre scenes in Germany

The incident happened when Bickel wanted to review a foul by Munster's Niko Koulis on Hertha's Michael Cuisance on the monitor at the side of the pitch, but the screen remained blank. Bickel waited about a minute for the monitor to come back on, but ultimately had to leave the decision to video assistant referee Katrin Rafalski. Bickel was instructed to award a penalty to Hertha Berlin despite his inability to see the monitor. Fabian Reese converted the penalty to give Hertha a 1-0 lead at half-time. The bizarre scenes certainly raised serious questions about stadium security and the escalating protests against modern officiating in Germany.

Following the 2-1 defeat at home, Preussen Munster were quick to address the security breach that left the officiating team in a state of confusion. In an official club statement, the hosts confirmed the deliberate nature of the act: "A masked spectator from the active fan section illegally entered the pitch and unplugged the technical equipment. Preussen Munster regrets the incident and will do everything in its power to identify and bring the perpetrator(s) to justice."

The club also hinted that the disruption was not a random act of madness but a calculated protest against the implementation of VAR in the game. The club added: "Furthermore, immediate measures have been taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Initial findings indicate that this was a planned action - a banner to that effect was displayed in the home section shortly after the technical malfunction."

The result of the match has been completely overshadowed by the security lapse. As the German FA (DFB) prepares to investigate the matter, Preussen Munster faces potential sanctions for their failure to protect the technical area. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile relationship between some fanbases and the modern advancements of the beautiful game.