VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has expressed consideration for retirement because of the officiating in the Bundesliga being terrible.
The 39-year-old returned to Germany this season after five years with Arsenal. He was booked by referee Babak Rafati in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Rafati allowed a controversial goal for each side, and Lehmann is wondering if there are any better officials in Germany.
''We all have reason to be not too happy with the performance of the referee,'' he told Premiere television after the match.
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''I kept asking myself what on earth he was blowing for. These are referees for us and not for the two people in the stands who are writing a report about him. What that man did was unbelievable.''
Lehmann was extremely upset after receiving his third yellow card of the season.
''There was a situation in which a Frankfurt player feigned an injury so we could not launch a counter-attack,'' he added. ''The referee said he had to stop play for the injury and then the man stands up and doesn't even leave the field to be treated."
''I told the referee, 'Look! There he goes!' and he shows me a yellow card— incredible. That was so bad that I may as well not bother playing in future. I did not even say anything nasty to the referee."
''Surely there are better ones. I am sorry, but things cannot go on like this. This is sad for the whole of the Bundesliga.''
Bad officiating or not, Lehmann's remaining years are numbered, as shown by his performances at Euro 2008 for Germany.
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about 1 month ago
in my opinion officiating in football is in dire need of improvement. referee's get so much wrong these days (although yes i understand it is not always necessarily their fault) it's no wonder it could drive jens lehmann to retirement.
from about 1 month ago
he's not playing too well anyways, but he makes a strong case
about 1 month ago
I sympathise with how frustrating it can be to be the recipient of a contentious decision, but Lehmann has repeatedly displayed a profound lack of sporting grace. His accusations following Euro 2008 really were inexcusable, even incongruous; he neglected to recall many of the fortuitous decisions that favoured his team. I think during the tournament Poland had a dubiously disallowed goal (?), Austria could have been awarded a penalty, and obviously the Ballack header against Portugal that could have been disallowed.
Referees are as fallible as any human. But Lehmann seems to have become so cynical, even distrusting, which football may have contributed to. If he doesn't enjoy the sport anymore, or if it is causing such intense negative feeling, perhaps retirement would be appropriate.
from about 1 month ago
The Ballack goal against Portugal definitely should have been disallowed because of the push. Lehmann played horrible in Euro 2008.
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