The German referees and assistant referees have spent their winter training camp in Mallorca for the second time in a row this year. Thorsten Kinhöfer is one of the more experienced among the 70 participating referees. He knows that those six days in Llucmayor are his last training camp as a referee. He uses the opportunity to reflect on both his past and future.
In the DFB.de Interview of the Week, Kinhöfer speaks to Tobias Altehenger about his feelings and explains how he views the changes in the refereeing landscape. The referees have returned to Germany by now, but the interview was conducted back in Mallorca.
DFB.de: Mr. Kinhöfer, last year it was considered quite spectacular for the referees’ winter training camp to be moved from Mainz to the Mediterranean. I’m assuming that by now a lot of aspects have become a routine and are a familiar process for the participants. What are your impressions of this year?
Thorsten Kinhöfer: We’ve really got excellent conditions here in Mallorca. The staff are so helpful and the surroundings are just excellent - be it the hotel itself or the sports facilities. Moreover, it's a huge advantage that we’re the only guests here. This means we’re undisturbed and don’t have to watch our every word when talking to our colleagues. We’re happy to be able to return here. We wouldn’t mind the weather warming up a little though.
DFB.de: This is your final season as a Bundesliga referee. Does this ever make you feel a bit glum, especially during a training camp like this one?
Kinhöfer: I can’t and don’t want to deny that. When you’re able to see the finish line on the horizon, you’re probably bound to feel a bit melancholic. It’s just so much fun with the lads, even at the ripe old age of 46 years. I have to admit that the young lads in the mid-twenties are different to those of us, who have been around for a long time. They belong to a different generation of referees and it that’s the way it should be. Still: I can’t deny that it's touching.
DFB.de: Every wrong decision turns into a public debate nowadays and the cameras show the pitch from every angle. In how far does this influence the referees’ work?
Kinhöfer: I still remember what it was like when I was kid: We only had the ARD-Sportschau back then and we were always waiting for Ernst Huberty to reveal the signs that would say which three matches were to be shown. Today there are so many cameras covering everything and there are summaries available on a countless number of channels and online providers. This means every minor mistake can be detected. Of course, this kind of TV technology has changed the sport. However, there is no way to avoid such developments, so we referees need to adjust to them. Obviously, you’ll always be able to make a better decision after having watched two slow motions of the incident. This is the human factor, there will always be mistakes. It’s a natural process, but it already has been in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
The German referees and assistant referees have spent their winter training camp in Mallorca for the second time in a row this year. Thorsten Kinhöfer is one of the more experienced among the 70 participating referees. He knows that those six days in Llucmayor are his last training camp as a referee. He uses the opportunity to reflect on both his past and future.
In the DFB.de Interview of the Week, Kinhöfer speaks to Tobias Altehenger about his feelings and explains how he views the changes in the refereeing landscape. The referees have returned to Germany by now, but the interview was conducted back in Mallorca.
DFB.de: Mr. Kinhöfer, last year it was considered quite spectacular for the referees’ winter training camp to be moved from Mainz to the Mediterranean. I’m assuming that by now a lot of aspects have become a routine and are a familiar process for the participants. What are your impressions of this year?
Thorsten Kinhöfer: We’ve really got excellent conditions here in Mallorca. The staff are so helpful and the surroundings are just excellent - be it the hotel itself or the sports facilities. Moreover, it's a huge advantage that we’re the only guests here. This means we’re undisturbed and don’t have to watch our every word when talking to our colleagues. We’re happy to be able to return here. We wouldn’t mind the weather warming up a little though.
DFB.de: This is your final season as a Bundesliga referee. Does this ever make you feel a bit glum, especially during a training camp like this one?
Kinhöfer: I can’t and don’t want to deny that. When you’re able to see the finish line on the horizon, you’re probably bound to feel a bit melancholic. It’s just so much fun with the lads, even at the ripe old age of 46 years. I have to admit that the young lads in the mid-twenties are different to those of us, who have been around for a long time. They belong to a different generation of referees and it that’s the way it should be. Still: I can’t deny that it's touching.
DFB.de: Every wrong decision turns into a public debate nowadays and the cameras show the pitch from every angle. In how far does this influence the referees’ work?
Kinhöfer: I still remember what it was like when I was kid: We only had the ARD-Sportschau back then and we were always waiting for Ernst Huberty to reveal the signs that would say which three matches were to be shown. Today there are so many cameras covering everything and there are summaries available on a countless number of channels and online providers. This means every minor mistake can be detected. Of course, this kind of TV technology has changed the sport. However, there is no way to avoid such developments, so we referees need to adjust to them. Obviously, you’ll always be able to make a better decision after having watched two slow motions of the incident. This is the human factor, there will always be mistakes. It’s a natural process, but it already has been in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
DFB.de: New technology such as the vanishing spray has been established this season. The goal line technology will be introduced this summer. Do you consider this to be a positive trend?
Kinhöfer: We can’t be afraid to continue developing. However, the crucial question is: Which innovations do actually help the referees and which ones are more likely to be a burden? I think the vanishing spray is a useful gimmick that surely helps us during a match, but it’s not a necessity. The goal line technology, however, is a great aid to the assistants. Thus far, they sometimes had to make decisive calls within split-seconds, although something had actually blocked their view.
DFB.de: You’re ending your refereeing career this summer. Do you have any plans for after that? Are you going to assume another role in the game, perhaps in a managing position?
Kinhöfer: I’m sure this will come up in a few conversations during the second half of the season, but I haven’t decided on anything yet. Thorsten Kinhöfer, the referee, will be history when I blow the final whistle. Only time will tell if there is going to be a Thorsten Kinhöfer, refereeing coach, in the future. Obviously this would be a matter close to my heart and I would love to give something back to football. So, I'd say it wouldn't be a surprise if I was to somehow stay involved in refereeing after this summer.
