Bastian Dankert (born 9 June 1980) is a German football referee who is based in Rostock.

[1] He referees for Brüsewitzer SV of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Football Association.

[2] 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.

[3] Widely considered to have changed the outcome and dynamics of the game and an example of how bad VAR's have ruined the sport.

In his main profession he is the general manager and marketing director at Landesfußballverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e. V.[6]