Shortly before the end of his career, Deniz Aytekin condemned the “hatred” against referees and called for more understanding.
During his career he asked himself the question more often: “Does that still make sense? This hatred over and over again, do I want to put up with that? Can my family stand it? No sport in the world is worth putting yourself in danger,” Aytekin reported in an interview with stern magazine. But with him it would have “The love of football has triumphed over such doubts every time.”
From the 47-year-old’s point of view, there is a lack of awareness among the public of the pressure placed on referees at the highest level. “Many people still think that we’ll go there on Saturday, whistle right, sometimes left, and then we’ll go home again,” said Aytekin, who has been refereeing games in the Bundesliga since 2008. “But they don’t see the effort behind it, they don’t see the sacrifices we make.”
Aytekin: “Permanently at the limit”
On the field, the stress level is increased due to the development of football “permanently at the limit”. There is “Soon no more rest periods at all”. And: “Even if we do everything right, there are people who are against us.” This is a “Part of the job”.
Aytekin, who was born in Nuremberg, has been refereeing Bundesliga games since 2008, was voted the most unpopular referee by the players in this country in 2011, but is now considered one of the best.
Insults from the head doctor
He reported hate messages; after a game he once received an email from a man with his real name. “He was the head doctor of a large German clinic. He insulted me so much, asshole was the friendliest one,” said Aytekin: “What’s wrong with someone who helps others every day that he forgets himself like that?”
However, Aytekin also looks back on many positive moments. For example, the exchange during the games with the ex-Munich player Thomas Müller. “It was always entertaining and often close to cabaret, because he countered verbally so well, it sometimes really gave me pause,” Aytekin said.
