From zero to 1 hundred: Mike Merz (36) and Tanya Cuttler (33) are the solely female refereeing workforce in males’s handball in the Bundesliga, and whereas they’re used to taking part in a novel position, they’ve carried out it throughout the world. The cup held in Poland and Sweden was a brand new expertise for each women from Tettnang.
They have been all of a sudden in the public eye. Not due to their efficiency, however as a result of they have been the first referees from Germany at the Men’s World Cup and there was some sudden criticism from dwelling. After their return, they instructed us in an interview what the two of them have been as much as in the previous few weeks and what they need to do in the future.
You have been the first female refereeing workforce from Germany to referee the Men’s World Cup. How does it really feel to make historical past?
Mike Mertz: We weren’t prepared for it and there was lots of media curiosity in it. It was common for us, as a result of earlier than us there have been female referees in the males’s World Cup.
Therefore, we didn’t anticipate that it could turn out to be such a giant subject in the media. It was tiring on one hand, however fantastic on the different. It’s at all times good to be the first to do one thing and lead the method.
Tanya Cuttler: It makes us proud. But if we have been the second German women at the World Cup, we could not be much less proud.
Besides the enormous media curiosity: How did you’re feeling about the match in comparison with different worldwide tournaments?
Tripper: From a purely sporting standpoint, it was totally different for us than earlier main women’s occasions. For us, this time the slogan “Participation is every thing” was at the forefront. We goal to realize as a lot expertise as doable and revel in the match with out an excessive amount of sporting stress. Of course, it will not work in case you’re assigned a semi-final or a Champions League ultimate, as in the European Women’s Championship.
And did you take pleasure in the World Cup as a lot as you thought you’d?
Mertz: Yes, we took each alternative we might and took lots of new information with us. First, we visited Gothenburg, the place the Swedish nationwide workforce performed their dwelling video games. It was a terrific ambiance. Then got here Malmö, which may be very near Denmark and at the Danish video games the complete corridor was stuffed with crimson. It was a really particular expertise.
They performed Cape Verde in two preliminary rounds and one most important spherical, together with a tie towards Uruguay. How does a sport like this differ from a Bundesliga sport?
Mertz: We had no issues at all when it comes to communication and reception on the subject. But after all the type of play is totally totally different from the Bundesliga we all know.
For us, we needed to put together very nicely upfront and adapt to the groups. But issues occur in European handball that we do not learn about.
For instance, for the first time in our profession we needed to present a blue card (after a crimson card and implies that there are different penalties moreover disqualification for the present sport, ed.).
Contrary to expectations, you have been in the highlight throughout the World Cup, as former nationwide participant Christian Schwarzer criticized the males’s handball referees on the podcast. The 2007 world champion actually stated: “I do not know the way the thought of letting women whistle for the males happened.” Further: “I would not do it as a result of they whistle for women and whistle for males. How did you hear about it in Sweden?
Tripper: This occurs in a short time in social networks. Although we tried to eat as little information as doable throughout the match, after all, we couldn’t keep away from it. Especially since there have been so many media inquiries out of the blue. It was a brand new expertise for us.
And how did they focus on the subject amongst themselves?
Tripper: Mike and I had been having this complete dialogue for some time, however we rapidly pushed it. It simply wasn’t essential to us.
How happy have been you that the DHB intervened so rapidly and took your aspect?
Mertz: This is a person opinion and we will settle for it very nicely.
Tripper: We are more than happy that the neighborhood has taken a transparent stand towards such a view.
Mertz: It was good that we acquired so many private messages, everybody inspired us. It was an excellent feeling.
The DHB Cup continues on Saturday as they referee TSV Hannover-Burgdorf Rhein-Neckar Leuven. Are you wanting ahead to it or can you are taking just a little break?
Tripper: From a purely sporting standpoint, we’re wanting ahead to persevering with every thing that is going to occur this 12 months. It’s essential for us to have a rhythm in order that we will name our personal efficiency each week.