Admin l Wednesday, January 25, 2023
FRANKFURT – Former top German referee Manuel Gräfe will receive €48,500 ($52,000) compensation after bringing an age discrimination case against the German Footbal Federation (DFB).
A court in Frankfurt on Wednesday said that although he was due compensation, the 49-year-old could not be reinstated as a referee.
Gräfe sued the DFB over its age limit of 47 for match officials. He had demanded damages of €190,000.
Former World Cup referee Felix Brych said this week that he too would like to stay on in the Bundesliga despite turning 48 this year.
The age limit of 47 is not stipulated in the DFB statutes, but has been common practice for many years. The governing body has indicated it may now soften its stance on the age limit.