The German Bundesliga game between Cologne ( Koln) and FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday, November 19, 2011 was postponed after referee Babak Rafati attempted suicide in the lead up to the fixture. Rafati, 41, was found injured by his assistants in his hotel room, after failing to turn up before the game and is now stable but in intensive care.
The German FA as well as police in Babak Rafati’s native city of Hannover confirmed that the 41 year old, a former banker who has been refereeing since 1997, had attempted suicide but failed in his attempt.
Hannover coach Mirko Slomka expressed shock at Rafati’s suicide attempt, saying that he had not expected him to take such a drastic step.
Rafati is not the first high profile German soccer figure to have attempted suicide. Goalkeeper Robert Enke also committed suicide not too long ago ( see article below)
Not nice to hear it.
Suicide is a lame thing to do