Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has claimed he
is considering retirement because the refereeing in the Bundesliga
is so bad.
The 39-year-old, who returned to Germany this season after
five years in the Premier League with Arsenal, was booked by
referee Babak Rafati in yesterday's 2-2 draw at Eintracht
Frankfurt.
Rafati allowed two controversial goals - one for either side -
to stand, leaving Lehmann wondering if there are no better
officials in Germany.
"We all have reason to be not too happy with the performance of
the referee," he told Premiere television after the match.
"I kept asking myself what on earth he was blowing for. These
are referees for us and not for the two people in the stands who
are writing a report about him.
"What that man did was unbelievable."
Lehmann was furious at the yellow card he received, his third of
the season for dissent.
"There was a situation in which a Frankfurt player feigned an
injury so we could not launch a counter-attack," he added.
"The referee said he had to stop play for the injury and then
the man stands up and doesn't even leave the field to be
treated.
"I told the referee, 'Look! There he goes!' and he shows me a
yellow card - incredible.
"That was so bad that I may as well not bother playing in
future. I did not even say anything nasty to the referee.
"Surely there are better ones. I am sorry, but things cannot go
on like this.
"This is sad for the whole of the Bundesliga."
Rafati allowed Frankfurt's second goal to stand despite a foul
by goalscorer Nikos Liberopoulos in the build-up to the goal.
And Stuttgart's equaliser from Mario Gomez in the 87th minute
was also controversial.
Rafati first ruled the goal out for a push by the Germany
striker on Benjamin Kohler, but then he consulted with his
assistant and, almost three minutes later, awarded the goal which
made the game 2-2.