ARD documentary series “Impartial”
When Deniz Aytekin jokes with Thomas Müller: New documentary shows the DFB referee up close
Bundesliga referees like Deniz Aytekin are under a lot of pressure
© Norbert Schmidt / Imago Images
Referees in the Bundesliga have a highly demanding job and receive little recognition for it. A new ARD documentary series gives an exciting insight into the everyday life of the referees.
When the Bundesliga starts again at the weekend, 19 teams will start a new season: 18 kicking the ball and one with the whistle in his mouth. The elite referees of DFB sometimes like to refer to themselves as the “19th team in the Bundesliga”. And that despite the fact that they hardly have any fans.
However, the referees also practice “a sport of their own”, as the Hamburg referee points out in the new ARD documentary series “Unpartieisch”: “We only start when the professional footballers stop.” While a player’s career comes to an end in their early 30s, referees usually only reach Bundesliga level at this age. That alone shows what is important for the referees in addition to knowledge of the rules, fitness and willingness to make decisions: charisma, communication skills, empathy and at the same time assertiveness.
Bundesliga referees need soft skills on the pitch
What these soft skills look like in top referees can be wonderfully understood in the five-part documentary series that ARD published shortly before the start of the season. Director Tom Häussler’s team was also allowed to use the exchange between the referees via the headset and dialogues on the field. And sometimes they are very entertaining.
For example, when Deniz Aytekin, one of the best German referees, jokes on the field with world champion Thomas Müller about his young teammate Jamal Musiala: “He takes 70 meters from me with the ball in a 100-meter sprint. You’re stupid before.” Or: “When you’re old, what should I say? Then I’m already dead.” Sven Jablonski (for many the future top referee in Germany) also demonstrates small-talk qualities, as he talks to HSV player Sonny Kittel about the tanning salon during the Hamburg city derby.
football referees
The men at the whistle: That’s what Bundesliga referees do as their main job
DFB is more transparent about mistakes
The documentary shows the referees, who are often so unapproachable, up close – football fans become aware week after week that they are human anyway when the referees make wrong decisions. Even the VAR couldn’t eradicate them. The DFB is now dealing with it more openly, asking for understanding for the referees and also admitting mistakes. Normally referees consider a game a success if they are not talked about. Now they regularly comment on their decisions on television after the game, and a major soccer talk show on Sunday mornings even broadcasts the weekly column “Let’s ask the referee.”
This is not always pleasant for the referees, and in the ARD documentary there is sometimes ruthless criticism. The referees are then similar to the other 18 Bundesliga teams: the performance principle applies here too – anyone who makes blatantly wrong decisions runs the risk of not being used again at first. Speaking of wrong decisions: It should be clear to every fan, player or coach that these can never be avoided. This annoys the referees the most, even worse when they are then subjected to threats and insults.
The documentary series “Unipartisan” not only provides an interesting insight into the everyday life of the DFB referees, but (hopefully) also more understanding – worth seeing for all fans before they complain about the referee again in the new season.
“Impartial – Germany’s elite referee” is in the ARD media library available. On August 26 at 10 p.m. the documentary will be shown in the first.