VFV referee shocked

“I’ve never seen anything like it in 17 years”

VFV referee Benjamin Karagic blew the whistle in the Bregenzerwald derby between Bizau and Schwarzenberg, in which visiting coach Metin Batir had to be treated for bleeding and home manager Patrick Feurstein resigned after receiving a red card. However, the referee does not want to remember this for long.

It was actually a harmless foul. I never thought it could escalate like that," says referee Benjamin Karagic of the moment in the match between Bizau and Schwarzenberg that turned an already rough Bregenzerwald derby in a very bad direction. "I didn't see the incident on the touchline. But when my assistant called me and I ran out, there was a bleeding man lying on the edge of the pitch who was also briefly unconscious."

Fisticuffs
The injured man was Schwarzenberg coach Metin Batir, who had been struck in the face seconds earlier by Bizau sporting director Patrick Feurstein. This was preceded by an exchange of words between the two, shoving and further fisticuffs. Feurstein then saw double red - first with his attack on Batir, then from referee Karagic. "He accepted it immediately. But there were still packs forming on the pitch. Fortunately, the stewards acted quickly and correctly," says Karagic.

But the match was not abandoned
In the end, the match was completed. But it left many negative traces. Even for Karagic himself. "In 17 years as a referee, I've never experienced anything like it. I just wanted it to be over," he regretted.

Feurstein immediately admitted his guilt. The ban he now has to serve doesn't affect him much - he would have quit as Bizau sports director anyway.