Germany showing red card to sexism
BERLIN — Germany’s Bibiana Steinhaus insists she is no feminist trailblazer as she prepares to become the first female referee in Europe’s top leagues, having already tamed Bayern Munich’s stars.
The 38-year-old is on the official list of Bundesliga referees for the forthcoming season, which starts on Friday, meaning she will become the first female ref in the top flights of Germany, England, Spain, France or Italy.
Steinhaus’ first Bundesliga match has yet to be announced, but she oversaw Bayern Munich’s 5-0 win at Chemnitz last Saturday in the first round of the German Cup and proved she can handle star players.
She gave Bayern’s Franck Ribery a playful punch on the arm after the French winger cheekily untied her boot laces before a freekick.
“She’s strong, she has a lot of power,” said Ribery.
“It was funny, she played along and was in good spirits.
“You can have fun with referees, but it’s also important that there’s mutual respect.”
Steinhaus says her promotion to the Bundesliga is a “great incentive” and reward for her hard work, but shies away from the notion that she is a pioneer.
“I never planned, and still don’t today, to break new grounds of emancipation,” she said at a training camp in July.
“I am love.”
Steinhaus has taken charge of around 80 German secondtier matches since 2011, refereeing the women’s final at the London 2012 Olympic Games and this year’s women’s Champions League final.
She has already acted as the fourth official in Germany’s top tier and shrugged off Pep Guardiola’s attempt to put his arm around her shoulders when the then-Bayern coach remonstrated with her on the touchlines in 2014.
Unfortunately, the 5-foot-11 Steinhaus has already experienced sexism on the pitch.
During a second-division match in 2015, she sent off Hoffenheim’s only doing what
IGermany international Kerem Demirbay, then playing for Fortuna Dusseldorf, who told her women had no place in soccer.
The remark led to him receiving a five-match ban by the German FA.
Steinhaus, who works with a fitness coach, acknowledges that refereeing in the Bundesliga will be a big challenge.
“I like to say that the Bundesliga is another step up, I have worked intensively and the speed is different,” said Steinhaus.
“Certainly, as a female referee, I will be under special scrutiny from the start of the season, especially from the media. I don’t seek public attention. My colleagues know me well enough to know that.”
Steinhaus, whose main job is as a police officer, is in a relationship with respected former English Premier League and Champions League ref Howard Webb.
Recent history suggests she should brace herself for a tough time from more traditional fans.
Claudia Neumann, Germany’s first female soccer commentator, experienced a sexist backlash on social media when she took the microphone for state broadcaster ZDF during last year’s European championships.
“In football, which is the favorite child of German men, changes are about as welcome as an annoying bout of diarrhoea,” Neumann told SID news agency.
A survey by Loughborough University in England found only 3.7 percent of senior positions in European soccer are occupied by women.
Even in the women’s game, 10 of the 12 teams in Germany’s top flight are coached by men.
Nevertheless, Steinhaus is relishing her chance to make history by blowing her whistle in the Bundesliga.
“It has always been my dream and I am delighted that it will come true,” she said.