DFB Investigates Sexist Chants Directed at Female Referee |LAGOS EYE NEWS

The German Football Federation (DFB) has launched an investigation into reports of sexist abuse directed at referee Fabienne Michel during a recent third-division match.

The incident allegedly occurred during the 3. Liga fixture between SC Verl and Rot-Weiss Essen last Friday, as reported by German public broadcaster Sportschau.

Michel, 30, is currently the only female referee in Germany’s top three professional football leagues. During the match, she inadvertently obstructed Essen midfielder Klaus Gjasula while he attempted to block a shot, leading to Verl’s opening goal. Gjasula expressed his frustration post-match, stating, “The referee ran straight into my path and that resulted in the first goal. It’s a joke. I asked her why she was there, and she gave me a yellow card.”

In the second half, Michel reportedly made another positional misjudgment, prompting traveling Essen supporters to chant sexist slurs, including the word “Hure” (whore). Further recordings by local broadcaster WDR allegedly captured additional explicit chants directed at Michel.

It remains unclear whether Michel was aware of the abuse during the match, as she and her officiating team did not document the incidents in their official match report. However, the DFB initiated an investigation after Sportschau brought the matter to their attention.

“The support and protection of [female] referees is very important to us and has top priority,” stated Alex Feuerherdt, head of communications at the DFB’s refereeing department.

Rot-Weiss Essen has yet to comment on the allegations. However, head coach Uwe Koschinat remarked post-match that “the referee ran into a situation where she shouldn’t have been.”

Essen, one of Germany’s most historic football clubs, enjoyed success in the 1950s, winning the German Cup in 1953 and the league championship in 1955. The club later fell to the fifth tier in 2010 but returned to the third division in 2022. They are currently just one point above the relegation zone.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges for female referees in men’s professional football. The most prominent female referee in Germany to date has been Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb, who officiated 179 professional men’s matches between 2007 and 2020, including 23 Bundesliga fixtures.

The DFB’s investigation aims to address the issue and reinforce its commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for referees in German football.