The number of referees in amateur football has fallen from almost 80,000 to around 45,000 within ten years. Many potential referees are put off by reports of bullying, threats or even physical attacks on the referees. Pascal Martin has made it his mission to promote refereeing. The 21-year-old uses his popularity as a TikTok star for this.
A nearly three-hour drive lies behind Martin this Sunday morning when he arrives at the CU Arena in Neugraben-Fischbek together with his stepfather and a friend. They traveled from their place of residence in Lage, Westphalia, to the multi-purpose hall in Hamburg’s Harburg district. “We urgently need to go to the toilet,” says the influencer with a laugh to those responsible for FC Süderelbe, who are already waiting for him at the entrance.
The club invited to the indoor masters for U13 teams – and committed “Qualle” as a star guest. Under this pseudonym, Martin knows his more than 600,000 followers on the video portal TikTok better. He got this nickname in his school days in French class. At the time, he didn’t dare to dream of becoming an internet celebrity. Today his videos are viewed millions of times.
No airs and graces despite great popularity
Despite his popularity, Martin does not show airs and graces. On the contrary: When he sees that the tournament organizers have put chocolate bars, bananas, drinks and even shower gel on the bench in the dressing room, his eyes start to shine. “Crazy,” exclaims the 21-year-old, who then immediately remembers what it was like before his time as an influencer: “It’s only been like this since I’ve been doing TikTok. Before that I never got anything. This is really nice Luxury. There were clubs where there wasn’t even a proper shower. So I was sent to the storage room.”
Space storm after C youth game in Berne
Martin is now being courted by the clubs that book him as a referee. If they announce it in the run-up to their games or tournaments, great public interest and thus relatively high revenues are guaranteed. A few weeks ago, the 21-year-old led a C youth game for the Hamburg club TuS Berne. Hundreds of mostly young spectators watched. After the final whistle, they stormed the pitch to get a photo with the referee.
“Rent a Referee” as a business model
Martin has turned refereeing into a business model. It doesn’t officially mean “Rent a Referee”, but it is exactly that. Clubs can book him for a fee. He also gives lectures at schools and other institutions and works as an expert for various media. “And it’s all because of TikTok. I always say to myself, ‘Wow, what you did.’
Pascal Martin, seen here at the FC Süderelbe youth tournament, is particularly popular with young people.
The 21-year-old became famous with video snippets about his everyday life as a referee and his views on football. The fact that the clips on his social media channels are not glossy products and that he does not come across as a star but rather as a young man from next door is also a reason for his popularity.
“He’s the nicest referee I know. Besides, he’s funny too,” explains a Union Tornesch player, who has to go to the plate with his team right away. “I hope Qualle will referee another game for us today,” says one of his teammates.
“Jellyfish” promotes more respect for referees
Meanwhile, Martin is warming up in one area of the hall. He wears a black T-shirt that reads “Violence is not a solution” on the front and “Respect for referees. Reach the goal together” on the back. “That’s my message,” explains the referee, who has recently been officiating his games for C-League club Westfalia Dortmund. He started refereeing at his home club TuS Kachtenhausen. “I never really wanted to be a referee. Then I just tried it and then immediately realized how cool it actually is,” says the influencer.
Internet star was threatened as a teenager on the field
However, he almost put the whistle and yellow and red cards aside forever. Because at the age of 15, Martin was threatened at a B youth game. He had to be afraid for his health. “I sent a player off after an insult. He then threatened me with the words: ‘You’ll experience something after the game,'” says Martin: “That was a very bad moment for me.”
He sat out for a few weeks after this incident. Then Martin said to himself “Now more than ever” and directed games again. He later discovered TikTok as a platform to take his fight for fair play and respect for referees on a big stage. He made sure that refereeing got a better image, especially for the younger generation, as the 21-year-old proudly reports.
Because of Martin alias “Qualle” some young people have started refereeing.
“It’s crazy that people are now becoming referees because of me. That’s what I wanted to achieve. I don’t want to be the center of attention and make a star, I want to get a message across.”
Much resentment from referee colleagues
The fact that Martin markets himself via social media and is now a star as a referee, although he only officiates youth games, does not meet with everyone’s approval. As is well known, success breeds envy. Or as it is called in influencer jargon: “hater”. Again and again, users write nasty comments under their videos. “60 percent of the haters that every influencer has are my ‘referee’ colleagues from other circles. These are probably people who don’t know this internet very well or just don’t give it to me. But I don’t care anymore.” , says the 21-year-old.
“I usually only sleep five hours”
The TikTok star does not feel any resentment at the FC Süderelbe tournament. Countless players want to take a picture with him. Martin patiently fulfills all wishes. The folders that the club has put at his side do not have to intervene. In between, the referee uploads a video to keep his followers updated. “Actually, I rarely do that during tournaments. I want to whistle properly,” he says.
After a few hours, the indoor masters is over. Martin goes with his entourage into the cabin where the bananas and candy bars are waiting for him. But the working day is far from over for him. “I usually only sleep five hours because I always edit my videos in the evenings,” reports the 21-year-old. Life as an influencer also has its downsides.
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sports club | 05.02.2023 | 10:50 p.m
