Kaiserslautern (dpa) – The former world-class referee Markus Merk misses real guys as game masters in professional football.
“The whole refereeing has changed incredibly, it has become much more uniform. In my time there were ten absolute personalities, you don’t have them anymore today,” Merk told the German Press Agency before his 60th birthday on Tuesday.
Today’s referees are “more streamlined”, but that is normal in today’s society and in view of the media observation of the Bundesliga. Merk used to referee at world and European championships and was DFB referee of the year seven times between 1994/1995 and 2007/2008. In total, he oversaw 338 Bundesliga games.
Merk has largely withdrawn from the committees of his home club 1. FC Kaiserslautern, currently a candidate for promotion in the 3rd division. “It is now that the club is economically rehabilitated and stable,” he explained. “But I’m available day and night with advice and action.”