Referee Fabienne Michel was subjected to sexist abuse during a recent third-division football match in Germany between SC Verl and Rot-Weiss Essen. The German Football Federation (DFB) has launched an investigation into the incident, which involved chants of a derogatory nature directed at Michel by fans of Rot-Weiss Essen.
The chants, which included terms like "Hure" (whore) and other explicit insults, were reportedly triggered by Michel's decisions on the field, including a moment when she inadvertently obstructed Essen's Klaus Gjasula, leading to a goal for Verl. Despite the controversy, Michel did not mention the abuse in her official match report, but the DFB became aware of the incident through media reports and has since initiated an investigation.
The incident highlights ongoing issues of sexism in football, where female referees often face derogatory comments and harassment. The DFB has emphasized its commitment to protecting female referees, stating that their support and protection are of top priority. However, the prevalence of such incidents suggests that more needs to be done to address the normalization of sexist behavior in the sport.
Markus Schwabl, captain and sports director of SpVgg Unterhaching, has defended Michel, stating that her refereeing skills are excellent and that the abuse she faced is unrelated to her performance. The incident has sparked calls for a cultural shift within the football community to combat sexism and ensure a more respectful environment for all participants.