Suicidal ref out of hospital

Bundesliga referee Babak Rafati has been released from hospital following his suicide attempt on Saturday.

Rafati was due to officiate Koln’s clash with Mainz, but the game was postponed after the 41-year-old tried to take his own life shortly before kick-off.

Speaking to Bild, his father confirmed that his son’s condition was improving, but declined to comment on his son’s motivation.

“I phoned Babak on Saturday and twice on Sunday. He is doing very well,” Jalal Rafati said.

“The first thing he said was, ‘Dad, I love you’. He apologised to me and asked for forgiveness.”

“I told him, ‘of course, my son’. I am so very glad that he is well again.”

Despite officiating nearly 200 Bundesliga matches in his career, Rafati has taken charge of just four league games this season and will lose his status as a FIFA-listed referee in January.

Some have speculated that his career problems prompted the suicide attempt, while others have guessed that personal issues were to blame.