12 Nov 2008Lehmann threatens retirement over refereeing standards

Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

Jens Lehmann hinted on Monday (November 10th) that he may quit football altogether as a means of protesting against the standard of refereeing in the German Bundesliga.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper, who joined Stuttgart in the summer, was furious after picking up a yellow card in his new side's 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend.

It was the 39-year-old's third booking of the season for dissent and he is now threatening to retire if the situation continues.

He said: "I may as well not bother playing in future. I didn't even say anything nasty to the referee.

"Surely there are better ones. Things can't go on like this. It's sad for the whole of the Bundesliga."

Lehmann was booked after complaining to the referee when the game was stopped for an injured Frankfurt player, despite Stuttgart being on the counter-attack.

The stopper was incensed when the player then got to his feet and was not even required to leave the pitch.

"What that man did was unbelievable," he added. "I told the referee, 'Look! There he goes!' and he shows me a yellow card - incredible."

Lehmann featured in all 38 league games when Arsenal went through the entire Premier League season without defeat in 2003-04.

© Copyright