RIP Wolf-Dieter Ahlenfelder

With much sadness I just learned that the cult referee Wolf-Dieter Ahlenfelder died on August 2, 2014, aged 70. He was born in Oberhausen and he was quite a character - you do not find refs like that anymore today.



"Ahli" as he was fondly called, started his referee career in 1975, and he was even listed as FIFA referee in 1984. He was also voted Best Referee in Germany for the season 1983/84.

He is most famous for the match Werder Bremen vs. Hannover 96 which he refereed after having drunk several beers and chasers (shots of "Malteser" liquor). He infamously ended the first half after 32 minutes (but then was told it wasn't time yet, and so he gave the first half another ten minutes before he called it off still a bit prematurely). Otherwise it seems he did an okay job as he even got top marks for his performance and was allowed to referee 103 further Bundesliga matches. Even today you get a beer and Malteser when you order an "Ahlenfelder" in the club's pub in Bremen.

A legendary quote stems from an exchange between the referee and Paul Breitner:
Breitner: "Ahli, you whistle like an *ss!"
Ahlenfelder: "Paule, could it be that you play like an *ss?"
Mind you, this didn't even merit a booking at that time! XD

Source:
http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/609195/artikel_wolf-dieter-ahlenfelder-ist-tot.html
http://www.abendblatt.de/sport/fussball/article112287392/Mensch-Wolf-Dieter-du-bist-ja-total-blau.html

Inventor and pioneer of the "Drunken Referee". When your name becomes a name for a drink you know your legend. RIP Ahli.

Rest in peace.

Sounds like he was great guy.