FC Koln vs Mainz Postponed Due to Referee Attempting Suicide

The Bundesliga fixture between FC Köln and Mainz 05, scheduled to kick off at 9:30 am ET, has been called off and will have to be rescheduled for a later date, due to unfortunate events unrelated to football. Match referee Babak Rafati was reportedly discovered in his hotel room after a suicide attempt, according to a report from Sky television in Germany, now confirmed by news.de. Rafati survived, but the league did not feel that it was appropriate to continue with the fixture.

Obviously, what's important here is Rafati's health and our thoughts are with his family. Rafati's colleagues were reportedly stunned when they heard the news and found themselves unable to take over and referee the fixture. Fans and stadium staff were apparently not informed of the news in a timely fashion, and fans were being let into the stadium for the match as late as 8:45 am ET, 2:45 pm local time, 45 minutes before the scheduled kickoff.

Gegilworld93 wrote:Rafati

When I read the title I thought it might be him

Slit his wrists, has family too, so sad

And RR they couldn't appoint another ref in such a short time.

Gegilworld93 wrote:he's been criticised a lot, was voted worst Bundesliga ref three times in a row and loads of fans were staring hate campaigns against him, next year he wouldn't have been a FIFA ref anymore.

Steadman wrote:When I read the title of the thread I pictured the referee attempting suicide during the game.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Gegilworld93 wrote:Rafati

When I read the title I thought it might be him

Slit his wrists, has family too, so sad

And RR they couldn't appoint another ref in such a short time.

They
wouldn't have to, promote a linesman to referee, and promote the 4th
official to linesman. Shouldn't be too difficult to find a qualified
referee to be 4th official.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Gegilworld93 wrote:he's been criticised a
lot, was voted worst Bundesliga ref three times in a row and loads of
fans were staring hate campaigns against him, next year he wouldn't have
been a FIFA ref anymore.

The way football fans and managers
treat referees is disgraceful, I can't believe the Bundesliga has an
award for the worst referee.

Gegilworld93 wrote:

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

They
wouldn't have to, promote a linesman to referee, and promote the 4th
official to linesman. Shouldn't be too difficult to find a qualified
referee to be 4th official.

for an official Bundesliga match? Don't think that would be a good idea,
don't even think it would be allowed since they need licences and I

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Gegilworld93 wrote:

for an official Bundesliga match? Don't think that would be a good idea,
don't even think it would be allowed since they need licences and I

It's happened in England before, it was either in the Premier League or the Championship. They had to get someone out of the crowd because two officials got injured and they only had one reserve. Linesmen do have official referees licences.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Gegilworld93 wrote:

for an official Bundesliga match? Don't think that would be a good idea,
don't even think it would be allowed since they need licences and I

It's happened in England before, it was either in the Premier League or the Championship. They had to get someone out of the crowd because two officials got injured and they only had one reserve. Linesmen do have official referees licences.

James wrote:

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

It's happened in England before, it was either in the Premier League or the Championship. They had to get someone out of the crowd because two officials got injured and they only had one reserve. Linesmen do have official referees licences.

Wehad an announcement at KC one time asking if anyone was a qualified ref. This was after the 1st ref was injured and the 4th official came on.

Liverpool wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2066194/German-referee-Babak-Rafati-Fear-mistakes-led-suicide-attempt.html