Stand: 10.08.2021
One of the best football referees in the world: Manuel Gräfe
Quelle: picture alliance / Ralf Ibing /f
What does a Bundesliga referee get a gift from the DFB after 17 years in the first division? Apparently nothing …
In the “Bild” podcast “Phrasenmower”, Manuel Gräfe (47) speaks openly and intensely about the end of his career. After 289 Bundesliga games, he is no longer allowed to whistle. Because the DFB says: too old! Gräfe led his last game on matchday 34: Dortmund against Leverkusen. The clubs said goodbye to the Berliner with applause and presents. And the German Football Association?
Gräfe in the “phrase mower”: “What did I get from the DFB? I would put it this way: a kick in the ass! They were happy that I was finally out. I got nothing. No call, not even a standard SMS, nobody was on site! Really nothing. I was not told that I am really not there anymore. “
“Could have arranged that together”
“Oldie” Gräfe is now suing the DFB for age discrimination: “I think there is an appointment in a year. That is realistic. “And further:” It can definitely be a legal dispute for years. “
For Gräfe, this is not an optimal solution: “I would have liked to have seen it together. And that’s why there was also the conversation with the DFB and the request, the inquiries – especially from Guido Winkmann and me. Everything could have been settled with one another. But as always, that is decided in back rooms. And I don’t think because of performance thoughts … ”
Referee Manuel Gräfe will say goodbye to his family after his last Bundesliga game on May 22nd in Dortmund
Quelle: picture alliance / GES/Edith Geu
Gräfe and Winkmann (47) are thus out of the Bundesliga circus. And yet Gräfe is very interested in improving the image of the German referees. For example, through short, helpful referee announcements over the loudspeakers in the Bundesliga stadiums when using video evidence.
Gräfe explains: “That is absolutely essential anyway. I don’t understand that anyway. It’s been possible in football for 20 years or so. You should be able to do that in the stadiums, too, and the German referees are able to speak a sentence straight ahead. All! And for sure … “
Gräfe goes on to explain why the sometimes controversial video decisions should be spoken out loud: “That can be explained in one sentence. And then I take all the spectators with me. And then I’ll take all the journalists with me. I take all the fans with me. I believe that when you explain a decision, you will understand more about it. “
In the “Phrasenmöpf” podcast, Gräfe also reveals what happened at a party night with Franck Ribéry and why he suddenly got a call right before kick-off last season.
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