German 2nd division side Fortuna Düsseldorf forced midfielder Kerem Demirbay to referee a local girls’ match as punishment for making a sexist comment to a match official.
The 22-year-old, on loan from Hamburger SV, told referee Bibi Steinhaus that she had no place in men’s football after she’d sent him off for a second bookable offence during his side’s 2-1 win at FSV Frankfurt, in which Demirbay scored twice.
He then went on to criticise her on Facebook before deleting the post, and he has since phoned Steinhaus to apologise as well as issuing the following apology on social media:
— Kerem Demirbay (@Kerem_Demirbay) November 30, 2015
I am extremely sorry for what I said to Mrs Steinhaus. This sentence I should never have to say, because it is not my image of women. I was very emotional on Sunday, because the game was super important for us as a team. I overreacted and simply did not have my emotions under control. I’m really very sorry.
I said immediately after the game, when I had my emotions under control again, that I have to apologize to the team and referee. That’s what I’ve done: I apologized yesterday personally to Mrs Steinhaus and am very pleased that she has accepted my apology. Yours, Kerem.
Fortuna Düsseldorf oyuncusu Kerem Demirbay kızlar maçını yönetirken; pic.twitter.com/gb3GEeTx3f
— yarisaha.com (@YARISAHA) December 6, 2015