Wolfgang strong in the interview: "That this is not so great, is quite clear" - KICKE

Mr. Stark, you've spoiled your last of 345 Bundesliga games in 2017: 2: 2 between Gladbach and Darmstadt. Do you know which note of the leagues gave them in their last game?

Honestly, I do not know anymore. But you can now answer that now immediately (lacht).

A smooth one.

Probably there was a small bonus because it was my last game.

That's not similar to us. They were 47 years old at that time and had to stop. Would you like to have passed longer?

In any case, I would like to spoil longer longer. I was still so fit at the time - even now I would do it from the fitness to lead a Bundesliga game. But we just have the age limit. It has often been discussed about how most recently at Manuel Gräfe.

"Otherwise you have the problem with the younger referees"

With him you had the feeling that he became better from year to year. Nevertheless, he also had to stop reaching the age limit.

There is a for and reflected. On the one hand: Why does an experiner with 47 stop? On the other hand: one came into this league even sometime, because a colleague excreted from age reasons. I think it's good, because you know it before and can adjust to it. This makes a younger colleague place, which crashes from the 2nd Bundesliga. Otherwise you have the problem with the younger arbitrators who have no chance to meet. Of course I would like to spoil himself, but on the other side I find the age limit not so bad.

For example, the age limit was repealed for Björn Kuipers, he whistled in the Champions League and the EM final. In England are over-50-year-old in use. Is the DFB there too rigid in his actions?

The Netherlands and England have abolished the age limit more or less completely. They have others at 45. We are well served in Germany with 47. Of course, it would be desirable for every referee in this situation when the DFB would say: You can continue for two years. The clubs would also welcome that, I think: there's someone who has experience, whistles for 15 years in the league and is fit. Why should the stop? This will always cause discussions. But it is so anchored in the statutes, you just have to accept that.

At the em, there were surprisingly few discussions about the hand game rule. Is it on a good way?

I guess so. You are now a bit back on the old version: The intention must be in the foreground. But even if the hand game rule has been redesigned a bit, modified: there will be situations in the coming season in the Bundesliga and the Champions League situations, where you can discuss again.

"... then I can not talk that"

They are planned for this in the upcoming Champions League season.

Exactly, Tuesdays at the top game, to see at "Amazon Prime Video". I will try to give an approach with my expertise to clarify. So that the viewer does not get: How does the referee just think at this moment? That does not necessarily have to be wrong decisions. That can also be those who perceive the referee very well.

The DFB (right Reinhard Grindel) appointed Wolfgang sharply in 2010 and 2017 as the "referee of the year". Bongarts / Getty Images

Then you will be switched live during the game?

In difficult situations already. In the half-time break or after the game, this is of course also possible. Afterwards, the remaining lots are summarized again, even there my expertise is in demand in contentious situations.

If former arbitrators express as experts, they are sometimes accused of staying on DFB and UEFA line and spare the former colleagues of criticism. Can the viewers expect controversial assessments of them?

That's all important to me: if you criticize someone, then on a factual level. But if something has been rated wrong, then I have to say that too, then I can not talk that. The pictures speak for themselves.

"I do not want to exhale old things again"

Does the DFB continue to use you as a guide for younger referees?

As a coach and as observers in the Bundesliga, right, but also down to the 3rd league. Then I look at the young referee who will whistle in the Bundesliga at some point.

Which reference can replace digs in the medium term?

You have to trust it all 24 in the Bundesliga. Otherwise you would not have taken you. One or the other certainly needs a little time to develop.

If we look back again at the end: After two controversial interventions in the 2: 1 between Wolfsburg and Schalke, they were deleted from the list of video wizards in 2018 "until further notice". "It's like a football team: If a player has a bad phase, he continues to participate in the training business and can offer themselves through performance," said Videoprojekt boss Jochen Drees at that time. And: "There are people who have their strengths as referees on the square - others are better video assistants." How did you take that? That this is not quite as great for a personally, is very clear. But I do not want to go closer to it, because that's the past. I found my role as observer and coach - and from the new season as an expert at Amazon Prime Video. I do not want to bring out old things again. ## The international top transfers of the summer