Babak Rafati

Babak Rafati
Personal information
Born 28 May 1970 (1970-05-28) (age 41)
Hanover, West Germany
Other occupation Banker
Domestic
Years League Role
2000–2011 2nd Bundesliga Referee
2005–2011 Bundesliga Referee
International
Years League Role
2008–2011 FIFA listed Referee

Babak Rafati (Persian: بابک رفعتی, born 28 May 1970) is an Iranian-German football referee.[1]

As of February 2010, he has officiated more than 150 matches in the 1. Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga. As of November 2011, he has officiated 84 top-flight German league games.[2]

Suicide attempt

Rafati was scheduled to referee the 19 November 2011 1. Bundesliga match between 1. FC Köln and 1. FSV Mainz 05, but never arrived, leading to the match's abandonment after a replacement could not be found.[3] He was later found in his hotel room, having attempted suicide, and was rushed into intensive care.[2][4] He confirmed that he was suffering from depression, and that would like to return to refereeing after he finished undergoing therapy.[5] Incidentally, his debut officiating a Bundesliga game was a match between Köln and Mainz 05 on 6 August 2005.

References

  1. ^ "Babak Rafati" (in German). kicker.de. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/schiedsrichter/1-bundesliga/2009-10/628/schiedsrichter_babak-rafati.html. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
  2. ^ a b "Bundesliga game called off after referee's suicide bid". BBC Sport. 19 November 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15806602.stm. Retrieved 20 November 2011. 
  3. ^ "Köln vs. Mainz called off". bundesliga.de. http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga/news/2011/index.php?f=0000198459.php. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  4. ^ "Köln gegen Mainz abgesagt" (in German). Sportschau. ARD. http://www.sportschau.de/sp/fussball/news201111/19/koeln_mainz_abgesagt.jsp. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  5. ^ "Referee Babak Rafati seeks return after suicide attempt". BBC Sport. 25 November 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15890525.stm. Retrieved 28 November 2011. 

External links