German referee attacked after viral same-sex proposal during Cologne match

February 10, 2026 • 0 • min read

Table of Contents

German referee attacked after viral same-sex proposal during Cologne match

A German football referee has reported being violently attacked at his home days after a same-sex marriage proposal that went viral during a Bundesliga match in Cologne.

Pascal Kaiser, an amateur official and lifelong fan of Cologne, proposed to his boyfriend Moritz in front of more than 50,000 supporters during Cologne's home victory over VfL Wolfsburg.

The moment, which took place at the RheinEnergieStadion, was shared widely after the club posted a video of the proposal on Instagram.

In the footage, Kaiser addresses the crowd with an emotional message about visibility and inclusion in football before asking his partner to marry him.

Cheers rang out across the stadium as Moritz accepted, capping a memorable day that also saw Cologne secure a 1-0 win thanks to a first-half goal from Linton Maina.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 1. FC Köln (@fckoeln)

Threats and alleged attack

However, the days that followed took a disturbing turn.

According to French sports newspaper L'Equipe, Kaiser began receiving threats that allegedly referenced his home address.

He reportedly contacted police to express concerns for his safety but was told there was "no danger."

The report claims that around 20 minutes later, whilst Kaiser was in his garden smoking a cigarette, he was "violently attacked" by three men.

Kaiser believes the assault was linked to the public proposal and the attention it received.

He later shared a photo on social media showing a black eye, prompting an outpouring of support from fans and members of the football community.

Photo: Instagram/pascalkaiser98

'I don't want to hide'

Speaking during the proposal, Kaiser told the packed stadium:

I don't want to hide. I want to be visible. I want everyone to see that I love this person. A man. As a man. In football.

Kaiser, who previously played football and has spent more than a decade refereeing at grassroots level, has long spoken about the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility in sport.

In an earlier interview with German LGBTQ+ outlet Schwulissimo, he described his motivation for speaking openly about his sexuality.

I see this as my mission: to create visibility. To be a voice. And to encourage people who aren't yet brave enough to speak up.

I know how lonely it can be to think you're the only one. I want no one to have to feel that way again.

Wider impact

The alleged attack has renewed conversations around homophobia in football and the safety of LGBTQ+ figures who choose to be publicly visible in the sport.

Whilst many clubs and governing bodies have taken steps to promote inclusion, incidents like this underline the risks that can still exist off the pitch.

Kaiser has not indicated that he plans to step away from refereeing or advocacy, and messages of solidarity continue to pour in online as supporters call for accountability and stronger protections.

Also Read: