German referee ruptures ligament in record-equalling game

BERLIN – German referee Felix Brych has suffered a cruciate ligament rupture while officiating a record-equalling Bundesliga match on Saturday evening.

Brych made his 344th Bundesliga appearance as referee in VfB Stuttgart’s 2-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, equalling Wolfgang Stark’s record, but the injury forced him off the pitch early.

According to the German Football Federation (DFB) on Sunday, Brych will undergo surgery soon. The length of his absence “cannot yet be estimated,” the DFB said in a statement.

The experienced referee slipped and twisted his right knee in the 32nd minute.

“I was lying on the ground and thought: This can’t be happening. I already realized that it wasn’t good,” Brych told broadcasters Sky Sport after the game.

He then limped to the sideline and received treatment. Initially, he remained on the pitch with a bandage, but at half-time he handed the match over to fourth official Patrick Schwengers.

“The doctors said it would be risky to continue. It is what it is. That’s life. Now I’m standing here and have the record. That makes me happy. On the other hand, I’m also down,” he said.