Fans in more than 200 countries will watch the Super Cup between Bayern and Dortmund live on TV on Wednesday. And many will rub their eyes - for the first time, Bibiana Steinhaus (41), a woman whistles this game. The police inspector from Hanover has been refereeing in men's professional football since 2007, and in the first division since 2017. Wednesday it will be a triple premiere, because she has not yet refereed a game with BVB participation. In addition: it will be her first appearance as main referee this season. No question about it - for Bibi it is the biggest game of her career! Even if she has already whistled 3 World Cups and 3 European championships - they were all women's tournaments. But this milestone will be her last big appearance. The popular referee is ending her career, the “Bild” reports. Steinhaus has been refereeing in the Bundesliga since 2017 (23 games), and since 2007 in the 2nd Bundesliga (92 games). Now, after the Super Cup it will be over for “Bibi”. The reasons for this decision? Her private life. For four years she has been with ex-referee Howard Webb (49), who currently lives in New York. Due to the Corona crisis, the two only saw each other on screens for five months. Only a few weeks ago they were finally able to embrace each other again in London. (Source: Express)
Bibiana Steinhaus ends her national and international referee career. The German Super Cup final between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in Munich will be her last appearance in a stadium. The 41-year-old Steinhaus explains the reasons for her retirement: "Like a lot of people during the time of the coronavirus pandemic, I
got to thinking quite a bit and re-evaluating things. I had a very
honest and constructive discussion with Lutz Michael Frohlich, who is the head of elite refereeing for the German Football Association (DFB), and
after weighing up a lot of factors very carefully, I decided to bring an
end to my career as a referee, nationally and internationally. This evening, I hope that my focus will be on the match and the
match alone. And when the time is right, I will speak in a little more
detail about the reasons for my retirement", said Steinhaus. (Source: DFB)
Fritz Keller (DFB President): “I very much regret Bibiana Steinhaus' early retirement. In the future, German football will not only have to continue without an outstanding referee, it will also lose an extraordinary personality and a pioneer in a male domain. I still hope very much that many more women referees will enrich our professional as well as amateur football. Bibiana Steinhaus will continue to be a role model.”
Heike Ullrich (Deputy DFB General Secretary): "Bibiana Steinhaus is not only a great person, but also an extraordinary top referee, who has made it into the Bundesliga and internationally in many finals. She opened doors worldwide for numerous other female referees who are today in male professional football. Well beyond 90 minutes, rather for years, she has convinced on and off the pitch with her competence and professionalism. I would like to thank her very much for these invaluable achievements and I hope that she will continue to do more than just that in the refereeing area, but remains connected to the entire football family.”
Ronny Zimmermann (DFB Vice President for Referees and Qualification): “Bibiana Steinhaus is the German referee par excellence. She has had an incomparable career worldwide and has proven to all critics that she has what it takes to referee in the Bundesliga. For millions of female athletes - players and referees - from the grassroots to the top - she has become a role model with her success story and special personality and will leave deep marks. I take my hat off to this sporting life's achievement.”
Lutz Michael Fröhlich (DFB Director of the Elite Referees): “Bibiana Steinhaus ends her career as a referee on the pitch with today's game. She deserves the greatest recognition for what she has achieved, the greatest respect for her decision and a big thank you from my side for the absolutely trusting cooperation. An absolute enrichment for football, both in terms of the way she conducts the games and in personal contact. She really earned the nomination for this important game. That is the focus for today and I keep my fingers crossed for her and her team for the game management.” (Source: DFB)
Steinhaus was a familiar face on the international scene as well as in Germany. She was named on the FIFA referees list in 2005 and went on to officiate at a whole host of tournaments. She refereed not only at three FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups (Chile 2008, Germany 2010 and Canada 2014), but also at the last three FIFA Women’s World Cups, at Germany 2011, Canada 2015 and France 2019. Unfortunately for Steinhaus, she pulled a muscle during her first match in France, in the group game between the host nation and Norway, and took no further part in the tournament. Steinhaus’ expertise was not limited to women’s football. At the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019, Steinhaus was the first woman Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at a FIFA men's competition. "Bibi is a role model on the pitch for her qualities as an excellent referee, but also for her commitment, confidence and determination," said Kari Seitz, FIFA Head of Women Refereeing. "When you are the first of anything, especially as a woman in a traditional role for men, it takes incredible strength to believe in yourself despite all the obstacles and prejudice. Off the field, Bibi is no less of an incredible role model. She always has a kind and motivational word for others. She tries to build up the people around her, giving them confidence to also be their best. She is a truly generous and kind person and I am pleased to have been her colleague as a referee, and to have had her as part of the team for the project 'Road to the FIFA Women’s World Cup'." (Source: FIFA)
Born: 24 March 1979
Profession: Policewoman
DFB referee: since 1999
Women’s Bundesliga referee: 1999-2017
FIFA referee: since 2005
Bundesliga 2 referee: since 2007
Bundesliga referee: since 2017
Women’s referee of the year: 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2016-2017, 2017-2018
First woman to referee a FIFA Women’s World Cup final (2011) and a Women’s Olympic Football Tournament final (2012)
UEFA Women's Champions League final (2017)
