Rostock referee Dankert: Medal from Trump and exciting insights!

Rostock referee Dankert: Medal from Trump and exciting insights!

In tranquil Boltenhagen, where the waves of the Baltic Sea beach tell lively stories, the Rostock referee Bastian Dankert recently took a seat at the celebrity talk in the “Ostwind” restaurant. There he spoke about his impressive experiences at the Club World Cup in the USA, where he acted as a video referee. A highlight was the honor from none other than US President Donald Trump, who presented Dankert with a medal. In his message to Ostsee Zeitung, the referee emphasized that how impressive it was that Trump took the time to congratulate.

Although the atmosphere at the award ceremony was filled with boos, Dankert wanted to leave the political discussions out of the equation because, for him, the sporting event and the athletes' performance were in the foreground. “The athletes won because the US President was present,” he believes. He proudly reported on his long-standing refereeing career, which has taken him to all European and World Championships since 2016, as well as numerous important finals, including the 2017 Champions League final and the 2024 DFB Cup final.

A climb with passion

Dankert, who was appointed a FIFA referee in 2014, has earned a place in the top ten of over 80,000 referees in Germany. He began his refereeing career as a teenager and can look back on a career that also includes playing experience. Despite his impressive achievements, he remains a down-to-earth person: “My wife is in charge at home,” he explained humorously, while emphasizing his role as a family man. In his private life, he tends to hold back on football in order to unwind after work.

When asked about his connection to Hansa Rostock, Dankert admitted that as a referee it is difficult to be a fan, but he always keeps his fingers crossed for the club. He has not yet been able to comment specifically on his future prospects, but mentions that he could imagine taking part in the 2028 European Championships and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles as possible highlights of his career.

A look at women in refereeing

While we're on the subject of referees, we should also look at the situation of female referees. The RP Online reported that Dankert, together with Bundesliga referee Felix Zwayer and Sascha Stegemann, was on duty as video assistants at the Women's World Cup in France. This World Cup was special because video evidence was used for the first time in a women's tournament. The nomination of Dankert and his colleagues came at the same time as the report that the proportion of female referees in Germany is a meager three percent.

Although there have already been notable nominations, such as those of Bibiana Steinhaus and Riem Hussein, the path for women in refereeing remains rocky. Deutschlandfunk emphasizes that violence and sexism in sport continue to pose challenges. However, the DFB has declared the “Year of the Referees” in order to promote young talent and strengthen the base in order to be better positioned both in the professional field and internationally.

The event in the “Ostwind” was a complete success, with 200 ticket requests for only 50 places – the interest of fans and sports enthusiasts is unbroken. After the talk, Dankert even gave the local bosses a jersey with the signatures of his colleagues from the Club World Cup. The cabaret evening with Johannes Hallervorden, which will also take place soon, is already sold out. This shows that sport and entertainment go hand in hand in Boltenhagen.