A total of twelve referees are in use at the European Championship 2025 in Switzerland. As with the World Cup two years ago, none of them come from Germany. The German Football Association (DFB) is trying to change.
Because the association is anything but happy not to provide a referee at the current continental tournament. “We take this as an opportunity to reflect self -critically”he announced at the request of the sports show. “The aim of the DFB is always to be represented with its referees at big tournaments.”
Already at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, no German referees had been on the pitch. At that time, Katrin Rafalski represented the DFB as an assistant and Marco Fritz as a video referee. However, others were selected for the job at the pipe. “As always, great was the top priority. The offered game officials are the best in the world”FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina had said before the tournament started.
In 2022, a German was led to a game at a big tournament. At that time, Riem Hussein was used at the European Championship in England. In Switzerland, only Rafalski and Christian Dingert are currently in use as video assistants.
DFB refers to larger international competition
But why is it that no German referee is allowed to whistle in Switzerland? “International competition has grown significantly”the DFB admits – and sees air on the horizon at the same time: “We are currently in a transition phase of further development. With Fabienne Michel, Franziska Wildfeuer and Davina Lutz we have three talents with great potential.”
Referee Fabienne Michel is considered a candidate for the next big tournaments.
30-year-old Michel from TSV Gau-Odernheim is likely to be the most. She has been whistling caps since 2022, was a referee in 2023/2024 and, according to referee boss Knut Kircher, is also a candidate for commitment to the men’s Bundesliga.
More money for more professional Conditions
Meanwhile, the DFB has taken structural measures so as not to go empty again in future tournaments. The association states that courses have been expanded in time and deepened in terms of content. In addition, the technical equipment of the referees was improved, for example by new headsets.
In addition, would “From the 2025/2026 season, the remuneration in women’s leagues and competitions increased to create more professional conditions“. The management of a Bundesliga game from the new season will be rewarded with 1,000 euros instead of the 700 euros so far. In the DFB Cup and in the 2nd Bundesliga, more is now earned.
Less than five percent of the referees are women
The main problem in Germany, however, remains that there is simply too few referees. The DFB recently announced that more than 60,000 referees were active for the first time in almost ten years, which corresponds to an increase of four percent. But only 4.5 percent – and thus around 2,700 – were women.
“The DFB is decided and publicly behind its impartial – both in physical attacks as well as in discriminatory or degrading statements
A reason for this bad quota are incidents like from March when hopeful Michel was sexistically insulted by guest fans in the third division game between SC Verl and Rot-Weiss.
They have a deterrent for many young girls and women. “The DFB is decided and publicly behind its impartial – both in physical attacks as well as in discriminatory or degrading statements“So it says from the association.
One thing is clear: the impartial generally have no easy stand in Germany. Women have even more difficult. “Unfortunately, Fabienne Michel and all other referees are added to a gender -specific component. They not only hear the typical sayings, but also devaluing because they are women,” said criminologist Thaya Vester to the SWR.
Michel case: DFB reacted determined
So it remains difficult to win women and girls for the referee. In the Michel case, the DFB sports court grabbed hard and sentenced RWE to a fine of 20,000 euros. An important signal to protect the referees.
Support by the associations – both from the DFB and at the regional level – is the basis for the fact that the referee is going uphill again. The association is aware of this. Especially with women.
And maybe there is a positive signal in 2027. Then the next big tournament takes place, the World Cup in Brazil. When it comes to the DFB, five years after Riem Hussein again with a German referee on the pitch.