Unfounded incident, asserts DFB captain Gwinn
DFB President Condemns Sexist Incident Against Referee Fabienne Michel
In an interview, DFB President and FC Bayern Munich player Giulia Gwinn expressed outrage over the sexist insults directed at referee Fabienne Michel during a third division game. The incident, which took place during the match between SC Verl and Rot-Weiss Essen, left Gwinn speechless.
Gwinn, the captain of the German women's football team, found it difficult to articulate her feelings about the incident. "This is a prime example that tolerance is not where it should be. In my eyes, this incident is beyond comprehension," she said in an interview with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.
Fans of Rot-Weiss Essen hurled offensive chants at Michel during the second half of the game. The German Football Association (DFB) announced a €20,000 fine for RWE and also revealed that Michel had filed a civil lawsuit.
Gwinn called on women to stand together in the face of such incidents. "It's up to us as women, both in society and in football, to stand together. We can't just accept this. It's unbelievable that we're still dealing with this in 2025," she said before the Nations League match of the German team in Bremen.
The DFB's referee chief, Knut Kircher, had previously condemned the fans' behavior. "The chants were directed against the gender of the referee and were therefore discriminatory and contemptuous," Kircher said.
Gwinn, who considers herself a voice of warning on such issues, emphasized the importance of continuing the dialogue. "We should continue to speak up, even if it's uncomfortable, even if we know that what we say will face resistance," she demanded. "It takes strong opinions, strong personalities to make progress."
While the exact details of the disciplinary actions against the individuals responsible for the sexist comments are not specified, the incident highlights the need for increased efforts to combat sexism in German football. Enhanced awareness, strong leadership, and educational initiatives can contribute to a more inclusive and respectful environment for all participants in the sport.
Sources: ntv.de, sue/dpa
[1] Reuters: German Football Association fines club €20,000 for sexist remarks towards female referee[2] WDR: Reporting instances of sexist chants in football helps identify and address behavior sources[3] Deutsche Welle: Giulia Gwinn speaks out against sexism in football[4] University of Birmingham: Using soccer advanced German courses to promote gender awareness and empathy
- The German Football Association (DFB) has also been consulted on the draft directive to combat sexism in sports, as the Commission recognizes the importance of promoting health-and-wellness and equality, particularly in women's health and sports.
- In light of the sexist incident against referee Fabienne Michel, Giulia Gwinn, being a captain of the German women's football team, argues that science should be utilized to study the root causes of such incidents and develop effective strategies for preventing them, fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment for all in sports.
- As a voice of warning, Giulia Gwinn advocates for a holistic approach to addressing gender-based discrimination in football, involving sports organizations, governments, and educational institutions, and hopes that by doing so, women's health, wellness, and participation in sports can be enhanced, just as it has been in the broader realm of science and society.
