Nils Petersen from SC Freiburg and Anton Stach from Mainz 05 officiate a game in the Rheinhessen district league at the weekend. The two professionals approach the campaign – which is intended to promote refereeing – conscientiously.
Before his second appearance as a referee, the Freiburg soccer pro Nils Petersen sees great potential for improvement in his performance and is also thinking of a simple tool. “One time was when I was a kid when I was supposed to officiate an F youth game because nobody was there. That’s probably why I’ve never been a referee to this day: because I didn’t even have a watch with me and to whistled at half-time when the first spectator complained,” said the 34-year-old with a wink.
Stach and Petersen want to perform well
Former national player Petersen and Mainz professional Anton Stach are to referee a game in the Rheinhessen district league on Saturday. The reversal of roles in Nierstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, during the game between the host VfR and TSV Mommenheim (3 p.m.) is part of a campaign by the German Football Association, which is intended, among other things, to promote work as a referee.
Stach finds the change of perspective “very interesting” and hopes that he can show “a clear line”: “You probably have to get used to the fact that you don’t want the ball and have to avoid it .” Petersen wants to approach the task with “humility and respect”.
Aytekin supports the professionals
Petersen and Stach are supported by Bundesliga referee Deniz Aytekin and two assistants from the amateur field. “First of all, I have to print out a checklist of everything you need to have with you and what you need to think about as a referee,” said Petersen before the change of perspective.
