FIFA referee Deniz Aytekin from Bavaria didn’t only deliver a solid refereeing performance on the Wednesday before Lent; he also showed his sense of humour (and taste). The 39-year-old referee at the centre of the “sweets incident” in the DFB-Pokal derby between Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz 05.
DFB.de: What exactly happened in the ninth minute of the game?
Deniz Aytekin: I saw that something was being thrown onto the pitch in droves from the Mainz block, but I can’t tell exactly what the objects were. At first, I thought it could be coins, but then I thought it couldn’t be as Mainz’s fans are generally very easy-going. So I paused the match briefly, sped over to the corner flag to get a closer look and picked up a sweet to see the evidence for myself.
DFB.de: You offered it to a few players. Were there any takers?
Deniz Aytekin: No, they didn’t want it. They were surprised and simply weren’t expecting it. Normally the referees give out yellow cards, not sweets. So I ate it myself, before throwing it away. This incident was actually a first in my refereeing career.
DFB.de: Would you label yourself a carnival enthusiast?
Deniz Aytekin: No, I actually don’t care much for it. I come from Nuremberg, where we call it “Fasching” and we Franconians are rather reserved with regard to carnival.
DFB.de: So, was it tasty?
FIFA referee Deniz Aytekin from Bavaria didn’t only deliver a solid refereeing performance on the Wednesday before Lent; he also showed his sense of humour (and taste). The 39-year-old referee at the centre of the “sweets incident” in the DFB-Pokal derby between Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz 05.
DFB.de: What exactly happened in the ninth minute of the game?
Deniz Aytekin: I saw that something was being thrown onto the pitch in droves from the Mainz block, but I can’t tell exactly what the objects were. At first, I thought it could be coins, but then I thought it couldn’t be as Mainz’s fans are generally very easy-going. So I paused the match briefly, sped over to the corner flag to get a closer look and picked up a sweet to see the evidence for myself.
DFB.de: You offered it to a few players. Were there any takers?
Deniz Aytekin: No, they didn’t want it. They were surprised and simply weren’t expecting it. Normally the referees give out yellow cards, not sweets. So I ate it myself, before throwing it away. This incident was actually a first in my refereeing career.
DFB.de: Would you label yourself a carnival enthusiast?
Deniz Aytekin: No, I actually don’t care much for it. I come from Nuremberg, where we call it “Fasching” and we Franconians are rather reserved with regard to carnival.
DFB.de: So, was it tasty?
Deniz Aytekin: Yes, very tasty in fact. I know the sweets from home; my children eat them too. I had a choice between several flavours and finally went for lemon.
