📸 Ref leaves field injured: 28-year-old makes surprise Bundesliga debut | OneFootball

📸 Ref leaves field injured: 28-year-old makes surprise Bundesliga debut | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: OneFootball

OneFootball

·11 September 2026

📸 Ref leaves field injured: 28-year-old makes surprise Bundesliga debut

Article image:📸 Ref leaves field injured: 28-year-old makes surprise Bundesliga debut

We don’t see this every day either: The Bundesliga match between Union Berlin and FC Schalke had to be suspended for a full nine minutes in the middle of the second half with the score at 0–2.

The reason was an injury to referee Timo Gerach. Just under 60 minutes in, the official went over to the touchline and signaled that he was having calf problems. He was then treated in the tunnel area.


OneFootball Videos


However, the measure was ultimately unsuccessful: Gerach was unable to referee the match to the end!

The fourth official, Jarno Wienefeld, stepped in for him instead. The 28-year-old was taking charge of a Bundesliga match as the main referee for the very first time. 

Wienefeld handled the difficult task confidently and witnessed a deserved 3–1 win for Schalke at the Alte Försterei. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.


📸 Stuart Franklin - 2026 Getty Images

View publisher imprint