German football referee and LGBTQ+ activist Pascal Kaiser says he was assaulted by three unknown individuals shortly after filing a police report over threats. According to Kaiser, the attack is linked to the marriage proposal he made earlier this year to his partner Moritz at the stadium of FC Köln.

Kaiser, who has frequently spoken out against homophobia in sport, has long warned of a deteriorating climate for LGBTQ+ people. On social media he shared a photo showing him with a black eye. The perpetrators fled the scene, and police have launched an investigation.

The incident once again highlights how deeply entrenched homophobia remains in football. Despite campaigns and initiatives, critics argue that a structural approach to effectively tackling violence and discrimination in sport is still lacking.