Amateur football in the Main-Taunus: disrespect threatens the sport!

Amateur football in the Main-Taunus: disrespect threatens the sport!

Things are going well in amateur football! In the last few months in particular, there have not only been exciting games, but also explosive incidents. Elmar Schöniger, 59 years old and chairman of the Main-Taunus District Sports Court, knows the subject very well. He has been working in the legal department of a Rüsselsheim health insurance company for 43 years and has a football past as a youth player at DJK Flörsheim. Schöniger is currently active as a referee and sports judge and is concerned about the increase in conflicts on sports fields. “99.5% of the games are completely normal, but there are more and more incidents that exceed the boundaries of sporting cooperation,” he explains in an interview with the FNP.

Schöniger sees an anonymous threat against a volunteer sports judge in a neighboring football district as worrying. “This is simply unacceptable!” he emphasizes. He calls for a rethink in how we interact with each other, both on and off the pitch. He also points out that there is currently an increase in cases against coaches who do not behave in a sporty manner. Clear communication between the clubs is an important part of his work.

Abandoned games: two sides of the same coin

A current example of the problem is a C-junior game between TSV Lämmerspiel and SV Germania Steinheim. The referee stopped the game on May 3, 2025, when it was already 3-0 for Lämmerspiel, because of massive insults from Steinheim parents and coaches. This was the ninth game abandoned in 14 match days, which makes the situation appear extremely critical. While the sports court decided that the game had to be replayed, coach Metin Unat from Neu-Isenburg was outraged by the decision and spoke of a “scandal” and “distortion of competition”.

The replay was ultimately won by Steinheim 1-0, which secured them first place in the table. The use of video evidence was also an issue in this case. Video cameras, which are already in use on many sports fields, are intended to help objectively document incidents. These can serve as valuable evidence, even if Schöniger finds a comprehensive introduction excessive.

A bright spot in amateur football

On the positive side, however, it can be reported that the DFB campaign “Year of the Referees” is beginning to bear fruit. The total number of game abandonments and incidents of violence and discrimination have decreased compared to previous years. According to the DFB, 909 games were canceled in the 2023/2024 season, which corresponds to a decline of 5.5 percent. The campaign aims to draw attention to respectful behavior in amateur football and to highlight the positive aspects of the sport.

Even though it is becoming increasingly difficult, Schöniger is optimistic: "We have to have more understanding for each other. A respectful atmosphere is essential so that everyone involved feels comfortable and amateur football can continue to flourish!" It remains to be hoped that the efforts of both the associations and the clubs and young people will bear fruit and that amateur football will return as a place of togetherness and fair play.

Further information on the topic can be found here: FNP, OP online, and DFB.