Violence in amateur football: referee insulted and pelted with stones

How big the problem of brutality against referees in Germany is, show scenes from Mülheim an der Ruhr and Essen from last weekend. In both cases, the police now investigate for assault, insult and breach of the peace.

Several players of a Essen Kreisliga team attacked on Sunday the referee, because they were dissatisfied with one of his decisions. "First, the linesman attacked the referee, then several players of the Altenessen team went on the referee and offended him," said the police. The 40-year-old fled into a cabin, a player and the coach of the team followed him and continued to attack the referee. A witness stepped in and urged the two out of the cabin.

Already on Saturday, the 17-year-old referee was kicked by a player of the visiting team from Essen after an A-junior match in Mülheim. In addition, later a player of the Essen team threw stones at the car with which the referee was picked up.