Despite criticism: No men to officiate in women's Bundesliga - DFB

Men will not be allowed to officiate women's Bundesliga matches, the German Football Federation (DFB) insisted on Wednesday amid ongoing criticism on performances of female referees.

The DFB told dpa that the match official squads are put together before the season for each division and that "any change during the course of the season is not possible here."

The DFB stance to have only women officiate women's top flight games has been criticised for a while.

Critics say that the women's game has developed more over the past years than its officiating, that female referees often have another full-time job, and that the Bundesliga is the only country from Europe's top leagues where men are not used in the women's top flight.

The dismay culminated last week when the Nuremberg club voiced harsh criticism after a Bundesliga game in Bremen.

"The current situation in the refereeing sector women's Bundesliga is no longer acceptable and we must and would like to publicly point out qualitative shortcomings and structural deficits at the DFB," Nuremberg women's team official Osman Cankaya said.

Cankaya spoke of "a problem across the clubs and league" because "time and again, referees influence the game through obvious and incomprehensible wrong decisions.

"We are alarmed by both the quality and the quantity of errors, which in our eyes not only affects the competition, but also the attractiveness of the women's Bundesliga," he said.

DFB vice-president Sabine Mammitzsch admitted that "structural work needs to be done on the conditions and requirements for female referees" but she also hit out at Nuremberg over their statement - along with another vice-president, Ronny Zimmermann.

"With all understanding for the displeasure caused by wrong decisions, it is not okay how our referees are put under public pressure. That has nothing to do with fair play," Zimmermann said.