Peter Rasmussen, 37, has chosen to end his career as an international referee with immediate effect. Denmark's top-ranked referee will only continue in the domestic competitions. "It has been a very difficult decision to make, but I am relieved and settled with my choice. I must also say it's an idea I have had for over a year, so it is deliberate and it has nothing to do with the Champions League match Manchester City – Ajax, maybe just the straw that broke the camel's back", said Rasmussen.
Two episodes in that match resulted in strong reactions from the home team's players (photo) and coaches against the Danish referee and subsequent focus from the media, both at home and abroad. Peter Rasmussen then chose not to referee more matches in the winter break. "I no longer feel I have the time and energy to fit a full-time job, family and refereeing at top international level with the high demands that are being made. It takes too much for me, mentally, and it also takes a lot of time. It has been impossible for me to be 100% present in all three contexts and therefore I had to make a choice", justifies Peter Rasmussen and continues: "I have struggled for many years to meet the requirements of UEFA and FIFA, while I have cared for jobs and small children. I am very happy and proud of the results I have achieved internationally. And all the experiences I have been through seven years as a FIFA referee, I would not trade for a million".
Peter Rasmussen's international career started in 2006 when he was appointed as a FIFA referee. He made his international debut in 2007, followed by his first qualifying match for the Champions League between SK Rapid Wien and Anorthosis Famagusta in August 2008. He made his debut in the Champions League group stage in November 2011 with the match between Bate Borisov and AC Milan. Last year, Peter Rasmussen was the first referee to test the goal-line system "hawk-eye" for FIFA, when he refereed a friendly match between England and Belgium on 2 June 2012 at Wembley. His last international club match became Manchester City – Ajax Amsterdam in November 2012, while World Cup qualifying match between Macedonia and Croatia on 12 October 2012 was his last international A match. Peter Rasmussen reached in all probability more than 45 international matches in different tournaments. By its international termination was Peter Rasmussen broken for ties in UEFA Elite Development category, which is the second highest category. "We know that Peter has made a lot of thoughts about it and he has taken a deliberate decision that we support him. He has been a great representative of the Danish refereeing in Europe and he has had a high star from UEFA and FIFA, who followed him closely right from his earliest years as a FIFA referee", says Kaj Ostergaard, who is the chairman of DBU's Elite Referee Group, and concludes: "We are very pleased that Peter still has the motivation to referee at home, because he helps to ensure a high level of competitions and he is also a role model for his younger colleagues".
Source: DBU