Germany: Fritz Keller (DFB) condemns recent acts of violence against amateur referees

"The numerous acts of violence, disrespect and attacks on amateur referees shock us; we are dismayed, stunned and affected. Every incident is one too many, every form of violence is unacceptable. Attacks on the referee are attacks on football and that must stop, there is no doubt about it!" said Fritz Keller president of the DFB in an open letter published on 30/10/2019.

A referee was knocked out by a player he wanted to send off during a league match in Münster, Hessen, Germany (see video via Twitter below), on 27/10/2019. In the Berlin region, 1,500 matches were cancelled that same weekend on 26 and 27/10/2019 due to a strike by referees protesting the increase in violence against them. A similar strike had already been organised in mid-September in Saarland (GER).

After these numerous attacks in German amateur football, Fritz Keller president of the DFB assured the 57,000 referees in Germany of his solidarity and support in an open letter to the 24,544 member clubs of the 21 regional associations.

Rainer Koch, first vice-president of the German Football Association, Ronny…