Special exchange
Referee curiosity in the 3rd division
07/28/2025 – 2:29 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Japanese referees are used for the first time in the 3rd division. The DFB relies on international exchange and has two FIFA referees from Japan run four games.
In the new season of the 3rd division there is a special exchange on the square: Four games are led by Japanese referees for the first time. As the DFB announced on Monday, the two FIFA referees Koki Nagamine and Yusuke Ohashi will take over a game on the second and third matchday.
In addition to the missions in the 3rd division, four games in the regional league Bayern are also planned for the two. Nagamine and Ohashi are accommodated until the end of August in Frankfurt am Main.
The measure is part of an referee partnership that was launched around two years ago on the initiative of the Japanese Association (JFA) together with DFB Schiri GmbH. Recently, Bundesliga referees Martin Petersen and Florian Badstübner were deployed in Asia for four weeks – with a total of seven games in the first two leagues of Japan and in the league cup.
“We hope for a cultural and sporting exchange,” said Knut Kircher, Managing Director of Sport and Communication at DFB Schiri GmbH: “The referees should learn from each other and benefit from international experiences. Heading football games around the world is extremely helping to develop personality.”
Communication between the referees and the players should take place in English. Which encounters will lead Nagamine and Ohashi will be communicated before the respective matchday. The 3rd league starts on Friday (7 p.m./Magenta Sport) with the duel Rot-Weiss Essen against 1860 Munich.