After the lighter scandal in the Bundesliga
“Smear theater” – ex-referee causes a stir
December 15, 2024 – 10:08 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The throwing of lighters in Berlin continues to resonate. Ex-referee Manuel Gräfe also spoke up – and faced a lot of headwind.
On Sunday the Bundesliga will also be talking about the scandalous end of the game between Union Berlin and VfL Bochum. A fan of the capital club threw a lighter at Bochum’s goalkeeper Patrick Drewes shortly before the end of the game. As a result, the game was on the verge of being abandoned, but was ultimately completed. Bochum announced that it would lodge an objection against the game ranking. Drewes was treated at the hospital after complaining of headaches and nausea. A concussion test for the 31-year-old was unremarkable.
Former Bundesliga referee Manuel Gräfe commented on the situation on Platform A sharp criticism from the long-time referee. Gräfe claimed to have learned from well-informed hospital circles that no hematoma, skin injury or scratch was found on the victim.
Other users of the platform accused the 51-year-old of perpetrator-victim reversal. One user even criticized: “This tweet spreads information that only became public by breaking Section 203 of the Criminal Code. That is completely unacceptable, Mr. Gräfe.” This paragraph deals with the violation of private secrets such as medical treatments. Doctors are subject to medical confidentiality.
Gräfe rejected some of the allegations: “This is not a perpetrator-victim reversal if you note that the victim has no recognizable injury according to the doctors.” But this reaction did not go unanswered either. “And internal injuries are of course always derived from external appearance, of course. With the word ‘smear theater’ you are insinuating that he was just acting out his pain, and only because no external injury can be seen,” replied one user.
Bochum’s managing director Ilja Kaenzig had already defended himself firmly against the allegations against Patrick Drewes on Sunday morning. “The mood was heated. There were ugly comments not only in the stands, but also in the catacombs, where accusations of acting were made,” said the 51-year-old on Bild TV. “There is a perpetrator-victim reversal.”
“From our point of view, it cannot be the case that a player is hit by us and then has to justify that he was not seriously injured,” Kaenzig added decisively.