News Focus
- Deniz Aytekin and Fabienne Michel win the DFB Referee of the Year awards for the 2025-26 campaign
- German match officials voted for one week to select the top male and female referees
- Aytekin retires at age 47 after officiating his final Bundesliga match involving Bayern Munich
- The pair will appear on the cover of the 2026-27 rulebook for the second time in their careers
Deniz Aytekin and Fabienne Michel have earned the highest honour in German refereeing. They will serve as the DFB Referees of the Year for the 2025-26 season.
Sky Germany reports that colleagues across the nation chose this pair. The voting process lasted one week. Every match official in Germany could take part in the ballot.
This marks the second occasion that both referees will feature on the official rulebook. Their images will appear on the front cover of the 2026-27 edition. They first appeared on the cover two years ago.
The German Football Association hosted a special ceremony on Friday evening. The event took place in Leipzig. It served as the season finale for all elite referees. Aytekin and Michel received their trophies during this gathering.
Aytekin has reached the mandatory retirement age for officials. At 47 years old, he has officiated his final Bundesliga fixture. His last match saw Bayern Munich beat 1.FC Köln by five goals to one.
German football enforces strict age limits for its referees. Officials must retire when they reach 47 years of age. This rule helps maintain a quick pace in top-flight matches. It also opens doors for younger referees to advance their careers.
Michel continues her work on the pitch while Aytekin begins his retirement. Both have made significant contributions to football officiating in Germany.