Hertha Fan's Rage Results in Death Threat Towards Referee Ittrich
In a heated moment following a match between Hertha BSC and VfL Osnabrück, referee Patrick Ittrich made a decision that left one fan outraged. This led to an unsettling episode as the fan threatened the referee's life via direct messages on social media. The fan, hailing from Berlin, expressed his anger with the message, "I will kill you. You are a disgrace to German soccer."
Referee Ittrich, who also serves as a police officer, received this chilling threat after showing Hertha striker Florian Niederlechner a red card for rough play in the 85th minute of the game. In response, Ittrich stated, "Charges will follow, by the way."
Fan's Apology and Widespread Criticism
Following the incident, the fan responsible for the death threat reached out to Ittrich, offering an apology. In a post on dfb.de, Ittrich revealed this development along with the overwhelming support he received from fans. He shared that numerous emails and messages on social media criticized and condemned the threats, with his positive responses outweighing the negative ones.
DFB's Firm Condemnation
The German Football Association (DFB) strongly condemned the death threat, emphasizing it as "outrageous, disturbing, and unacceptable." Lutz Michael Fröhlich, Managing Director of Communications and Sport at DFB Schiri GmbH, expressed his concerns, stating the incident harms not just referees but the entire sport of soccer.
Referees as Vulnerable Targets
Recent incidents involving referees in the Turkish and Greek top leagues, where referees have suffered physical attacks, serve as a grim reminder of the danger referees face. Referees are not verbal punching bags, and Fröhlich emphasized this point by stating, "Referees are not fair game, neither in professional nor amateur soccer."
Ittrich's Stand against Aggression
Ittrich decided to make the threat public, not for self-centered reasons, but to raise awareness and encourage respectful behavior. His goal was to create a better environment, particularly in the context of anonymity on social media. "We should be aware of what we say," Ittrich advised.
Enrichment
While the base article provides a solid foundation, additional insights can shed light on this issue's global prevalence. For instance, soccer referees in other high-profile leagues, such as La Liga in Spain, have faced similar threats and abuse. This has led to condemnation from league bodies and calls for enhanced safety measures for officials, reflecting an alarming pattern in professional football.
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Enrichment Data: Death threats and physical attacks against soccer referees have become a growing concern across the world, affecting leagues like La Liga in Spain. The trend reveals an increasing verbal and physical violence against officials in various sports contexts. The need for enhanced safety measures and support for referees has become imperative to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved.
