'I almost fell off my chair' - Kroos slams new Bundesliga rule

The Bundesliga has introduced a new rule this season called the “handshake dialogue”, which requires both head coaches and their captains to meet with the referee 70 minutes before kick-off for a short talk. The aim is to promote respect, reduce arguments with officials, and create a better atmosphere during matches. By bringing the key figures together before the first whistle, the league hoped to send a positive message and set the tone for fair play.

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However, the reaction has been strongly negative. Coaches such as Lukas Kwasniok of Köln and Frank Schmidt of Heidenheim have criticised the move, describing it as disruptive and pointless. They argue that it interrupts pre-match preparation, adds unnecessary formality, and does nothing to influence what actually happens once emotions take over during the game. Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, speaking on his podcast “Simply Luppen”, went even further by branding it useless. Kroos said the idea may sound well-intentioned, but shaking hands nearly an hour before kick-off changes nothing when intensity and disputes inevitably arise in a live match. He insisted that German football should focus instead on fixing bigger issues such as VAR and time wasting.

Toni Kroos admitted he was stunned when he first learned of the rule. The former Germany international joked that he almost “fell off his chair” when he heard about it, stressing that it has “absolutely no effect and no value”. In his view, meeting the referee and exchanging pleasantries 70 minutes before kick-off disrupts captains’ mental and tactical preparations. Kroos argued that when the match begins, the intensity of the competition quickly erases any goodwill built beforehand, making the gesture meaningless.

Kroos is not alone in his view, with Lukas Kwasniok publicly demanding the rule be scrapped and calling it “nonsense”. Both coaches and players seem unconvinced that the move will reduce arguments, fouls or time wasting, and many believe it is more symbolic than practical. Still, not everyone agrees. Freiburg coach Julian Schuster has spoken in support of the handshake dialogue, describing it as a respectful tradition that could improve football’s image if given time to settle. For now, Bundesliga players and coaches are obliged to take part in the ritual before each game, but the debate is likely to continue. Whether the rule survives or is eventually scrapped will depend on whether the league stands firm against the growing criticism.

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