Bayer 04 ref Mutlu; 'The Bundesliga would be a dream come true'

Vedat, can you tell us how you came to be a referee for starters.

Mutlu: I was in year nine at the time. My class teacher Christian Martinet, who was also a Bayer 04 referee, told me about it during a theme week. In discussion with the school management and the FVM (Middle Rhine Football Association, ed.), he offered us a tester course and motivated us to try it out. I didn't have that much to do with football having never played it and I never watched football. But it sounded exciting and I thought to myself I'll give it a go. It was great fun straightaway. And now I have developed a real passion for football.

When and how did you end up at Bayer 04?

Mutlu: I came to Leverkusen in July 2022. Before that I was a referee at Ditib Chorweiler but Christian Martinet recommended Bayer 04 to me the year before – and perhaps he put in one or two good words for me. (He laughs) I'm very grateful for that. I'm now in my second season at Leverkusen and I'm very happy here.

What the benefits for you at Bayer 04 and how does the club support you?

Mutlu: The support from the club is really brilliant. We are really well equipped in all areas. If we have a problem then we can always talk to Rahel (Rahel Glombek, head of the referees at Bayer 04, ed.). That's really very good.

You started refereeing in 2019 and you have been in charge of 450 games over the last four years. That's a remarkable number...

Mutlu: Actually it's only two and a half years where I refereed the 450 games. (He laughs) Unfortunately, I couldn't do it during the coronavirus pandemic. Refereeing was really just great fun and I was highly motivated. Back then I was still in an introduction phase at school and therefore had the time. I refereed five games at the weekends. But it's different now. I have less time because of school and also my motto now is quality ahead of quantity..

Have you got a personal highlight in all those matches?

Mutlu: Yes, definitely. That was a practice match for the professional players where I was an assistant referee. It was also my birthday so it was a really special day for me in two senses.

How you get on with the other Bayer 04 referees?

Mutlu: I have a very good relationship with the other refs and I am friends with some of them and I meet up with them now and then. For example with Marc Martinet, the son of my former teacher and a ref at Bayer 04 like his father. In principle, we support one another really well and we are there for each other.

How does refereeing fit in with school?

Mutlu: I use my free lessons and the time on the bus and the train for schoolwork. That's always worked well and my marks have never suffered. My parents would never have allowed that. (He laughs)

You have a fair amount of experience. How would you deal with a lack of respect on the pitch?

Mutlu: That goes in one ear and out of the other now. I don't react to every word. But if it is insulting or disrespectful then it has gonetoo far. Then I act accordingly. Up to a certain point I'm a nice guy but I am also tough when I have to be.

Finally: What are your targets for the future as a Bayer 04 referee and what do your career plans look like?

Mutlu: Of course, it would be a dream come true to land up as a Bayer 04 referee in the Bundesliga and in professional football. I'm also very motivated to achieve that but it's obviously difficult. Very few people referee in the top leagues. Refereeing is like a pyramid – the higher you want to get the less places there are. You just have to wait and hope that places come free. To that extent, you need a bit of luck in addition to talent. Apart from that, I can imagine doing something in IT or becoming a teacher like Christian (Martinet, ed.). I'm in the second quartile now and still thinking about it…