In 2015, during a match in Fortuna Düsseldorf midfielder Kerem Demirbay was sent off by female referee Bibiana Steinhaus and reportedly told her that “women have no place in men’s football.”
The German Football Association suspended him for five weeks. His club imposed penalties: a two-week fine and the requirement to referee a girls’ youth football match.
This creative punishment aimed to foster reflection and empathy by having him officiate a women’s/girls’ game. Demirbay personally apologized to Steinhaus.
The experience reportedly helped him develop greater respect for women in football, emphasizing that talent and authority transcend gender.
Sadly, sexist attitudes toward female referees persist globally, including in India, where women officials often face disrespect, aggression, and derogatory remarks from players—underscoring the ongoing need for education, stricter enforcement, and cultural change in football.
