In soccer, referees need nerves like wire ropes and lots of self-confidence: players, coaches and spectators constantly complain about unpopular decisions.
The transitions between constructive criticism, verbal derailments, serious threats or even physical violence seem to be fluent by now.
Time and again, there is talk of brutal attacks on volunteer impartial people. To everyone's dismay.
Even the statistic speaks a clear language: caused horror. According to official figures from the German Football Association, there is a tendency for attacks on referees to rise slightly — in the pre-Corona season 2018/19 from 2,866 to 2,906. However, when you consider that during this time almost 50,000 fewer games have been held, a small difference becomes a tangible trend.
Rebekka Redinger, a passionate referee, has also heard any insults in her 15-year career. But that's not all: She was beaten unconscious during an indoor tournament.
The perpetrator — initially suspended “for life” — is now allowed to play again.
In our series 42 Questions, we talked to her for a long time about “being a referee” and its beautiful sides, but also about the issue of violence against impartial people.
Back then, SV Wacker Burghausen was still playing in the second Bundesliga, I just went there with a girlfriend and from then on I was enthralled - by the atmosphere, by the sport.
It all developed this way after that.
For me, soccer is magic, fascination, passion and total dedication.
(laughs) That's easy to answer: When it comes to handling the ball, I'm completely free of talent.
Versatile
It is a great opportunity for me to actively participate in this sport, which I love so much, and to help shape something.
Under no circumstances should it be a place where I let out my aggressions that have built up all week over the weekend and where I hand over my good nursery and decency at the cash desk.
Definitely yes!
Because I am firmly convinced that refereeing has had a positive effect on my life and personal development — something I definitely don't want to miss anymore.
To be honest, my parents didn't really know what it meant to be a soccer referee. In fact, both don't care much about soccer.
After the first few games, however, it quickly became clear to my mom that she would no longer watch the games because she was bad at dealing with negative comments and hostility towards me.
In principle, however, my entire family supports my passion. My husband is a soccer player himself, so you can learn a lot from each other and give each other tips.
But I don't want my kids to be on the pitch later when I'm leading a game. After all, you don't know beforehand whether they'll end up next to a spectator who may not be in control of themselves. I would like to spare my children that.
No, not really. Sometimes it's more of a lack of understanding why you sacrifice your weekend for it.
I passed the referee examination in 2006.
After that, I whistled in the men's district league for a few years.
I am now mainly an observer in the national league, but also in the youth sector as a point of contact for the next generation of referees.
(laughs) It felt like a long time ago.
I remember unbelievable nervousness and sleepless nights, but also a lot of support from the referee group and, of course, lots of critical looks:
“Can the girl do that yet? ” or “What is she doing there? ”
Some have also often spoken of the “women's bonus.” But on the soccer field, as a boy referee, you definitely won't get anything for free - whether female or male.
When the division comes up, you first look at the table situation. Over the years, you know the teams, what they're doing and which key players there are.
Of course, you also look at the map statistics and that's when you're ready to go.
But the most important thing: I always try to approach the matter as impartially as possible.
No, not rituals directly.
Before the game, just generally check whether I have my seven things with me. Because if I were on the pitch without a yellow card or a whistle because the stuff is in the cabin, it would be suboptimal.
During the game, I try to back off and give the game space - this allows me to stay focused and react to important game events
It's difficult. I think it depends on the form of the day.
On the one hand, I try not to take myself too seriously on the pitch and, on the other hand, let my competencies and abilities speak for me.
Basically, I always hope that the respect I have for the players also goes out to me.
However, if it doesn't fit anymore, I can do something else.
No Definitely not, but that's okay. I don't always take every word dead seriously myself.
That is difficult to answer. Of course, I can learn the approaches of other referees. However, it is also very important for me to remain authentic on the pitch and develop my own management style.
On the whole, I'm more impressed by the referees who dare to say something.
(grins) When it comes to physical fitness in referees, I'm probably not exactly the prime example.
Nevertheless, it must be said that fitness training in referees is carried out very professionally and extensively. Many stick to training plans, diet plans and go to the gym.
A lot of work is also being done on mental strength and body language.
As with everyone, it also depends on the form of the day for me.
In general, it has to be said that soccer simply involves emotions. Sometimes something just slips out of you. That is okay — as long as it stays within the frame.
If it gets too extreme, however, you have to show a clear edge. This has usually worked very well so far.
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In my 15 years as a referee, I've been told everything possible. However, insults aren't really the problem for me.
It becomes unbearable for me when it comes to sexualized comments. For example, when you come to the playing field and ask about the cabin and then say “I can also help you change clothes” or “Do you need help with showering? “Come on.
Especially as a referee, you are simply in an extremely stupid situation.
I wouldn't necessarily say formative, but it was definitely bad.
I whistled at an indoor tournament and there were tumultuous scenes. I even had to issue a referral, after which the game actually calmed down again.
Suddenly, a player passed by behind me and, for whatever reason, felt the need to kick back at my heels. As a result, of course, he also received the red card. Then all his fuses were blown.
He grabbed me by my ponytail and pulled me up completely — that's when my memory of the whole thing actually stops again.
The player has been suspended “for life.” Unfortunately, we learned a few years later that this doesn't really mean a whole life as a soccer player in reality in the Bavarian Football Association.
Back then, I asked myself whether I had done anything that would lead to this situation. I was able to answer that quite quickly with a clear no and therefore this question didn't even arise in the first place.
At this point in my life, refereeing was simply far too important for me to be able to give it up.
That was a long time ago and is over for me.
However, something has changed for me: I am now heavily involved in preventing violence in soccer.
That you can never see certain things and that you can't see into a person.
Since then, it has also been clear to me that you can't expect everything to always be normal and peaceful. Unfortunately, that is the case.
I think that finding an explanation for this would mean looking for a justification at the same time. And I don't think that should happen in this case.
Emotions are totally okay. You can also get angry on the pitch. But when it comes to inflicting physical violence on someone, there isn't an inch of room for manoeuvre.
Probably not in this form. A man of the same size with a ponytail would have made it much more difficult for the attacker to lift it completely.
But seriously, there are also plenty of examples of acts of violence against male colleagues.
Yes, definitely. As you can see again and again in the media, acts of violence against referees are becoming more rather than less.
It will never be possible to completely prevent it, but there are probably also factors in society as a whole that play a role in this.
Where mutual respect and decency still count and where rules are followed, that doesn't happen — simple as that.
If you accept each other on the pitch and it's clear to everyone that the referee is part of the game, it won't happen again in the future.
It's easy to find a bogeyman in soccer. In case of doubt, the referee may also be the one who makes the wrong decision in the game, whereas the bad pass doesn't matter quite as much.
All the anger then often unleashes on the referee. You then quickly find yourself alone and in this case you are an easy victim.
No! With anxiety in my back, I wouldn't be able to be active anymore.
I'm afraid of making the wrong decision. That is always unpleasant and of course I try to avoid it as much as possible.
But I'm not afraid that someone will choke out or be physically abused to me.
There have been many wonderful experiences in my referee career so far. The exchange training camps at the Salzburg Football Association were the best for me.
It was really professionally organized and was for young funding referees as well as for experienced FIFA referees.
During the day, people worked hard, analyzed and trained. In the evening, everyone sat at the same table. There was no fear of contact and there were some connections and friendships that have lasted to this day.
By far the most bizarre thing was when I watched a young colleague and he was no longer able to whistle after a few minutes due to injury.
Since there was no other referee who could have taken over the game, I then led the game. Barefoot because his shoes didn't fit me.
Video analyses in particular are currently on the agenda. The association provides us with a lot of material for this purpose.
It is helpful that there is now a camera on many amateur sports fields. Here you can quickly get an idea of how you look on the field and improve your body language or position game if necessary.
I am impressed by people who stand up for others and who sometimes swim against the tide. Straightforward guys who rebel against conventions and simply tell the truth.
By and large, I don't believe that.
I do think that people in the referee group in particular know that they can talk to me and that I am happy to help.
I don't know whether this is necessarily a role model.
You must never be discouraged. It is certainly not always easy as a referee, but there are also many nice situations.
It also helps you grow as a personality.
Thanks to refereeing, a lot of friendships and connections have developed in my life. There are running meetings, meet at courses or even do something together privately.
Since it is quite time-consuming when you whistle higher, you spend a lot of time together. This creates unique experiences that bring you together.
That actually happens again and again.
There are people who are actually impressed that as a woman you dare to do that or generally agree to lead a soccer game despite all the imponderables.
You learn an incredible amount about people and yourself. You get a different appearance and learn to assert yourself.
And especially as a young person, thanks to the small compensation, you might be able to afford one more drink when partying. That is certainly not wrong.
I've learned that it's always important to be true to yourself and not pretend to be.
That is a bold thesis.
It can certainly work for teams that already have no problem with referee decisions, especially in critical situations.
Teams, however, for which it is already borderline, will also have a problem there.
Thank you very much for talking to us!
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