Stine Fiege from North Hesse is one of the few women in the black and white referee outfit. The young talent does not want to be intimidated by insults on the pitch.
Stine Fiege fights. Today, the high school graduate has to go through the “referee-TÜV” at the sports school in Grünberg, the cadre forge of Hessian competitive sports. It’s about fitness and football knowledge. Once a year, Stine has to prove what she’s capable of as a referee and that she meets all the standards. Otherwise she is not allowed to whistle.
A total of seven young women are taking part in the qualification this time. Between the sprint course and the school desk, they also talk about bullying on the pitch. Each of them has had to defend themselves against disrespect from fans, players or coaches. A saying like “Back to the stove” is still harmless. For Stine emotional outbursts are part of football. However, recent escalations do not leave them indifferent.
Target referee
In amateur football, emotions are increasingly turning into physical attacks on the referees – across all leagues and age groups.
A C youth game in Frankfurt just ended with a scandal. After the district cup final between FC Germania Enkheim and FC Kalbach, an aggressive 48-year-old father stormed onto the field and yelled at the referee. He is said to have threatened to “behead” him. The referee is just 15 years old.
The violence also escalated in the third division game between Zwickau and Essen. When the 31-year-old referee goes into the dressing room after the end of the first half, a “fan” throws a mug of beer in his face. After this incident, the game will be abandoned. In total, the DFB counted 911 game abandonments in the 2021/2022 season after insults, verbal abuse or assaults. Sad record.
“Schiri-TÜV” in Grünberg: referee supervisor Patrick Werner explains football rules
football as personality coach
You need a thick skin to play football, says junior referee Stine. Fiege has played actively as a defender since she was a child. She wanted to be a referee from the age of twelve. Because she has so much fun being on the pitch. Without the help of her family, however, it would not have been possible.
She often has to be driven more than 100 kilometers to games or courses. But all the effort pays off. The whistle boosted her self-confidence. She used to be shy and reserved. Now she appears completely different. And is one of the few women in the referee office.
Focus more on the referees
Just four percent. The DFB counts so few women among the 50,000 referees nationwide. Young amateurs urgently needed! With the “Year of the Referees” the German Football Association wants to attract more youngsters. Referees need more recognition and appreciation, demands Patrick Werner from the Hessian Football Association.
It is high time to focus more on this office. Referees don’t want to be “spoilsports”, but to be perceived and recognized as “service providers for the game”, according to the referee supervisor. In addition to players and coaches, you also have to let the game masters have their say and hear their opinions and perspectives.
Total commitment: Referee Stine Fiege also has to be physically fit.
Convince with body language and expertise
Referees are under enormous pressure, not only from the media, but especially from the players on the pitch and the fans. The trainers at the Grünberger academy try to prepare Stine and the other junior staff as well as possible. “Body language is important,” says fitness coach Claudia Demuth from the Frankfurt Referee Association. With the right attitude on the pitch, discussions would not even come up. In addition, you shouldn’t act nervously, you have to stand by your decisions.
Stine not only has to convince in practice on this course, but also in theory. In the knowledge test, she easily manages the Hessen norm, but just barely misses the stricter DFB specifications. “But I want to do the next DFB test,” says Stine ambitiously.
Stine Fiege and referee colleagues at the knowledge test
Referee career yes, but not at any price
Your next goal is the group and association league. And she wants to get a taste of the men’s games. “Everyone dreams of the Bundesliga,” she says. But there was still time. First get your high school diploma, maybe study. And then we’ll see “what else is going on in refereeing”. She wants to encourage other women. “You can’t lose anything as a referee, you can really only win”.