By Michael Lachman
There is a sticker on the railing at the edge of the field at the Sparta sports field on Fischerstrasse. “WE ARE ONLY HERE TO RAZE”.
Yes, emotions are at home on the soccer field. The language is rough, but should always be cordial. Anyone who violates this will be punished. This applies to players, coaches – and also spectators.
Unfortunately, a visitor was not really under control during the recent Berlin league kick between Sparta and Türkspor. He probably read the sticker mentioned at the beginning too carefully and made it the motto of the day.
The center of the verbal attacks was the linesman, who got one or the other violent word slammed into his head by the said spectator. Sure, I’ve even whispered to the assistant on the line that he raises his flag like a paintbrush when painting a wall. But that’s more of a tongue-in-cheek teasing and not a dig in the box of faecal language.
At some point it became too much for the referee too and he pulled out red – for the complaining spectators. Probably for insult. In the truest sense of the word, a dismissal, because the fan had to leave the sports field, puzzled. I had never experienced anything like that.
But yes, I praise the consistent crackdown of the impartial. Because we must not all forget that the men with the whistle on the field and also those with the angle elements on the sidelines sacrifice their free time so that football matches can take place. For this we should be one thing in the first place, namely grateful!
Sure, referees make mistakes, they’re only human. But if I were to list the wrong decisions made by the players and coaches over the course of the 90 minutes, I couldn’t stop counting…
Therefore the appeal to everyone: Respect the guild in black. We need them. Today, tomorrow and always!