German women referees write World Cup history
These are the most important facts about the Handball World Cup
The 28th Handball World Championship will take place in Poland and Sweden from January 11th to 29th. Who are the favourites? What speaks for Germany? Who are the stars in the German team? The answers to the most important questions before the start of the World Cup.
Tanja Kuttler and Maike Merz are the first German women to whistle at a men’s World Cup. The road to world-class refereeing was difficult. For this they had to fight their way through and listen to stupid fan slogans.
IIn Bremen there was the next premiere for Maike Merz (36) and Tanja Kuttler (33). The sisters led the World Cup friendly between Germany and Iceland (30:31). For the first time a home game of the German men was refereed by women. But that’s not all: As currently the only female referees in the men’s Bundesliga, the two are an attraction.
They have been whistling in the men’s top division since 2018. Now the next big step is imminent: At the World Cup in Poland and Sweden (January 11th to 29th) you will be the first German women in action. This Thursday evening they will lead the group game between the Cape Verde Islands and Uruguay (6 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker).
But the road to world-class refereeing was difficult. “A lot of officials just wanted to protect us,” says Kuttler. “They saw this huge media pressure that you would be exposed to as a referee in the top men’s leagues. They were afraid that it would break us.”
“Body language is the be-all and end-all”
At first they waited in vain for promotion, but eventually Merz/Kuttler went on the offensive. “We asked briskly why other colleagues passed us despite comparable performance,” says Merz, “that opened the eyes of many officials.”
In addition to Maike Merz (left) and Tanja Kuttler, two other women’s referee teams are in action at the World Cup
Quelle: pa/foto2press/Steffen Proessdorf
When the two were then allowed to whistle for the men, the feedback was very good. There have never been sexist sayings from players or coaches. “There’s more of something coming from the spectators,” says Merz: “You hear: ‘Better go back to the stove!’ Curiously, 90 percent by women.”
German handball players looking forward to the World Cup
The dress rehearsal was a success, the World Cup is just around the corner: After beating Iceland in the final test before the World Cup in Poland and Sweden, the national players were satisfied. Captain Johannes Golla & Co. meet Qatar at the start on Friday.
Since the handball players are significantly taller than the two (Merz 1.68 meters, Kuttler 1.72 meters), “body language is the be-all and end-all,” says Kuttler. “You can blow a whistle that’s absolutely right, but if it’s too late and uncertain, nobody will believe you.”
In addition to refereeing, both of them work for the automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG – financially, you can’t do without a job. For a Bundesliga game there is 750 to 850 euros, in the 2nd division it is 400 euros. But they are currently on maternity leave. Merz has two daughters, Kuttler a son.
They do their fitness training in the morning at 5 a.m. or in the evening when the children are asleep. The three weeks of the World Cup are well planned: “We have a large Excel spreadsheet showing how our husbands and grandparents are divided,” says Kuttler. “Which child stays where or which sport it has to be taken to.” During the World Cup, where Maria Ines Paolantoni/Mariana García (Argentina) and Julie and Charlotte Bonaventura (France) are also in action, the offspring will of course grow watch their moms too.
“This is a huge opportunity to spark enthusiasm for the sport”
National coach Alfred Gislason and his handball players can hardly wait for the start of the World Cup. Sports director Axel Kromer is also in good spirits the day before leaving for Poland and hopes that enthusiasm for handball can be reignited.
