World Cup Corner

German referee Markus Merk has criticised his treatment by FIFA during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He said he and his team felt they were treated “without respect” while he was also unhappy with the way the referees were told to apply the game’s laws. Although his chances of being used again, after the group matches, were very low he and his team had to remain available at the referee’s headquarters at Neu Isenburg near Frankfurt.

For weeks we took part in voluntary training every morning, mostly as the only team. We felt somehow we were being treated without respect. I can understand the displeasure about the application of the rules in the group stage. I myself did not feel happy on the pitch. European referees had a hard time from the beginning.

44 years old Markus Merk was voted world referee of the year in 2004 and 2005 and is considered as Germany’s top referee. With FIFA’s age limit for referees at 45, FIFA matches are being ruled out but he is ready to return to the Bundesliga and international matches at European level in September.