Massive criticism of female referees – demand for male referees

The displeasure about female referees in top-level women’s soccer is growing. 1. FC Nürnberg demands that the DFB allow referees from the men’s division to officiate as well.

1. FC Nürnberg has complained extensively about the performance of female referees in the Women’s Bundesliga. “We have reached a point where the current situation in the women’s refereeing sector (…) is no longer acceptable and where we must and want to consciously point out qualitative grievances and structural deficits at the DFB,” said Osman Cankaya, sporting director of the club women. In a press release from the promoted team, he emphasized: ”We are talking here about a cross-club, league-wide problem.”

All clubs are affected, regardless of whether they are fighting relegation or for the championship, the Nurembergers believe. “We are alarmed by both the quality and the quantity of the mistakes, which in our view is having a massive impact not only on the competition but also on the attractiveness of the Bundesliga,” the statement continues.

There have been frequent complaints about the performance of female referees this season. According to the managers of FC Bayern and VfL Wolfsburg, one problem is that referees from the men’s professional leagues are not allowed to referee in the women’s top flight because there are separate squads at the German Football Association. In addition, the DFB has concerns about young female talent.

“We see a short-term, acute solution only in the abolition of the previous line of having the matches of the 1st and 2nd Women’s Bundesliga refereed exclusively by female referees and to focus on quality and competence (…) across genders when making appointments,” suggests 1. FC Nürnberg.

Christine Beitinger, sporting director of female referees at the DFB, recently described breaking down this caste system as a “more complex issue” and said: “The prerequisite must be that male referees are part of the women’s Bundesliga. Then we are basically open to it. So referees should be part of the women’s Bundesliga squad.”