Image: GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl (GEPA pictures)
FC Blau-Weiß Linz took the good feeling after their first win in the Bundesliga in Tyrol with them through the international break: the promoted team picked up their next point in a 1-1 draw at home against Altach. “I’m proud of the team, I’m very happy with the performance. We deserved the win, but we’re happy to take the point,” says Blue and White coach Gerald Scheiblehner.
And yet the 46-year-old was really angry after the final whistle. But that was less due to his team’s early goal: after just 13 minutes, the guests took the lead thanks to a header from Adthe Nuhiu. Initially the goal was disallowed due to an offside position, but after a VAR check it still counted. Scheiblehner was particularly annoyed by the process of how this decision came about: “For me it’s a catastrophe, you can’t make a decision that’s so important like that,” says Scheiblehner – and what he means above all is the long duration of the process Checks by the video referee: Both teams waited more than five minutes for the decision on the possible offside position: “Everyone is being put through torture. You never had the feeling that they were sure about the decision.” In fact: it was a very thin affair. Altach in particular can sing a song about it: in the past few rounds, several goals from Vorarlberg were disallowed after a VAR check. “It looks like no one scores goals without VAR anymore,” Nuhiu said with a smile, but added: “The last few times it was against me, this time it was for me. I’m not a fan of VAR, to be honest I am. He’s good when it comes to goal-line technology or offside, but I find him worthless when it comes to everything else.” What Scheiblehner also criticizes: “Altach has recently emphasized several times how many decisions have been made against them. It annoys me that this is now different for the newly promoted team. Apparently we first have to develop a standing that we are taken seriously. I’m angry because we played well.” The BW coach particularly questions the technical aids: “It can’t be that it takes so long to draw a line when it comes to an offside decision. There is also no transparency. And things that are unclear are bad.” But he thinks the VAR itself is a good thing: “It makes football fairer, but maybe we’re just not there technically yet. Maybe we need more cameras.”
Pirkl scores his second goal
At least: the goal conceded didn’t upset his team. A little later, Paul Mensah had missed the best chance (21st) to equalize, but failed due to Altach goalie Dejan Stojanovic. Simon Pirkl did better: After a long pass from Marco Krainz, the Tyrolean hit the corner with a half-volley. In the second half, Kristijan Dobras (70th) had the lead – but BW goalie Nicolas Schmid also had to intervene twice against Altach. “We can be happy, we are doing some things much better. We are more compact as a team,” summed up Linz goalscorer Pirkl.
more from FC Blau-Weiß Linz
What Blau-Weiß Linz can learn from its ladies
Blau-Weiß is hoping for a great moment against WSG
Blau-Weiß Linz: “We have seen that we can keep up”
Blue-White wins against WSG Tirol 2:4
: Nachrichten

I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.