Bastian Schweinsteiger Wrote to Babak Rafati After Referee's Suicide Attempt
German football icon Bastian Schweinsteiger offered support to Babak Rafati in 2011 after the former Bundesliga referee attempted suicide.
According to Swiss newspaper Blick (h/t Mark Lovell of ESPN FC), the Manchester United star, then of Bayern Munich, reached out to Rafati during a tough time in his life and career.
“Mr Rafati, there's often setbacks in life,” Schweinsteiger is said to have stated. “But you have to bounce back each time. I wish you all the best.”
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Speaking about the exchange, Rafati said it meant a lot to him. “I was very deeply moved,” said the former official. “He didn't have to do that. He knew I would never referee again after this incident. It was an incredibly humane gesture.”
As noted by Lovell, Rafati has penned a book on his struggles during his time as a referee in German football, including depression.
At the time, Schweinsteiger was starring in Bayern Munich’s midfield setup and was rated among the best players in world football having starred at the 2010 UEFA European Championship. The German eventually departed the Allianz Arena in 2015 for Manchester United, having won eight German titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2013.
Schweinsteiger etched his name into German football history in 2014 too, when he was part of the team to beat Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final.
At the moment, Schweinsteiger is on the periphery of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United squad. However, having been banished from training with the first team earlier in the campaign, he’s made some sporadic appearances as of late.
