Bastian Dankert

Bastian Dankert (born 9 June 1980) is a German football referee who is based in Rostock. He referees for Brüsewitzer SV of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Football Association. He is a FIFA referee, and is ranked as a UEFA second category referee.

Refereeing career
Dankert became a DFB referee in 2008, a Bundesliga referee in 2012, and a FIFA referee in 2014.

On 30 April 2018, Dankert was selected by FIFA as one of the video assistant referees for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the first FIFA World Cup to use the technology.

Dankert is known for being the VAR that made the controversial VAR intervention requesting the field referee to overturn their call and review for an England penalty between The Netherlands and England in the 2024 UEFA semi-final. Widely considered to have changed the outcome and dynamics of the game and an example of how bad VAR's have ruined the sport.

Personal life
Dankert lives in Rostock and is a sports scientist. In his main profession he is the general manager and marketing director at Landesfußballverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e. V.