Referee Deniz Aytekin also made Thomas Müller smile with a rant after FC Bayern’s top Bundesliga game against RB Leipzig. It was about ex-referee Manuel Gräfe.
National player Müller was in the TV interview when Aytekin expressed his anger at a media inquiry about a scene in Munich’s 1: 3 and at expert Manuel Gräfe.
“In the stadium nobody talks about the referee”, Aytekin (44) was angry, clearly audible in the catacombs. The former referee Gräfe is based in Berlin “and talks such shit and that’s starting to go against the grain. It’s crazy.” Müller, who was standing a few meters away, stopped in front of the camera and said: “We’ll listen to that with interest.”
The 49-year-old Gräfe critically observes the performance of the referees as a TV expert on ZDF and via Twitter. He shouldn’t “talk some shit about a pluck”Aytekin scolded: “It has nothing to do with sport anymore. The game was decided by the players.”
Aytekin: “I apologize for the choice of words”
Aytekin then apologized to Müller for disturbing his interview. “All right, I like to listen”, the 33-year-old replied with a smile. In the ZDF “Sportstudio” the scene before the meanwhile 1: 1 of Leipzig was discussed. Aytekin explained that he could not call a foul for Bayern despite a slight save.
“Then I freaked out” – donation for a good cause
Aytekin also said on Sunday that he and his team were happy to have survived the important game in Munich without making any major mistakes. That’s why he got very emotional when he was asked for an interview about Gräfe’s criticism immediately after the game. “Then I freaked out. I would like to apologize for the choice of words. That was completely over the top. I’m very annoyed with myself and the choice of words.”said Aytekin on “Bild” and announced a donation of 5,000 euros for a good cause as penance for his freak out.
Gräfe was a top referee when he was active. But now he’s leading “any war against the DFB and any responsible persons”, said Aytekin. This should not be at the expense of the currently active referees. Gräfe should rather get involved in the training of young referees.