"On 30 January, the 29-year-old proposed to his partner, Moritz, at Cologne's RheinEnergieStadion in front of almost 50,000 spectators ahead of a match between FC Köln and VfL Wolfsburg. On 7 February, just 20 minutes after informing police of threats he had received, Kaiser was attacked by three men in his garden, leaving him with an injury to his right eye."
"However, on 9 February, he was attacked at his home again. According to French sports outlet L'Equipe, two people attacked him in front of his home, beating him in the face and torso. Kaiser was supposed to be under police protection, but officers only arrived 30 minutes after the attack was reported. Kaiser, who came out as bisexual in 2021, making him one of a few openly LGBTQ+ referees in professional football, used the proposal to emphasise the need for queer visibility in football."
"Terrible message, if you make yourself visible we'll put you in the closet: Referee Pascal Kaiser, who proposed to his partner before the Cologne-Wolfsburg match, was assaulted at his home. It is known that prior to the assault, the address of Pascal Kaiser's house had leaked on social media and received direct threats. Police intervened after the attack and Pascal Kaiser is now in a safe place under police protection."
Pascal Kaiser, a 29-year-old German football referee, proposed to his partner Moritz at Cologne's RheinEnergieStadion on 30 January in front of nearly 50,000 spectators. He was attacked at his home on 7 February by three men shortly after reporting threats to police, sustaining an injury to his right eye. On 9 February he was assaulted again outside his home by two people who beat him in the face and torso while police protection failed to arrive for 30 minutes. Kaiser's home address had been leaked on social media with direct threats. FC Köln and LGBTQ+ activists condemned the attacks and called for visibility and protection.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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