“Not enough for performance”

Ex-referee Manuel Gräfe has renewed his criticism of the refereeing of the DFB.

“There have always been age restrictions. But why does it always have to stay that way? It’s not about performance, often just about political and personal issues,” Gräfe exclaimed Sport-1– “One-two” and renewed his criticism of the DFB.

But Gräfe did not only complain about his personal disembarkation. The 47-year-old also criticized the structural problems. “Much has been a tough battle over the years, especially internally,” said Gräfe. “There are so many things that can go better, for example when I think of what I said in an interview that 20 people had to share a physiotherapist, that’s a joke.”

He also calls for more transparency in dealing with referee services. “If someone has a better season than before, he should be allowed to whistle more games. Why is there no list of referees from 1 to 24? Then everyone would know where he is,” said Gräfe. “It’s like putting Haaland on the bench and saying: The numbers 2 and 3 behind them have to develop too. The best should be on the field and lead games – but many don’t dare to either, but something accept.”

Football can orient itself in other sports, for example handball. There, the teams should also have a say in who would be used as referee. “There is still arrogance in refereeing, according to the motto: The coaches and clubs cannot classify this area from a technical point of view,” said the ex-referee.

Gräfe had to end his referee career after the end of the last season, as the DFB has a fixed age limit of 47 years for referees.