Overview
- Meier argues German officials are no longer among the top three refereeing nations and notes their absence from late-stage World Cup matches in recent tournaments.
- He places responsibility on the DFB and says Bundesliga clubs should press for fully professional structures that treat referees as a dedicated top-tier unit.
- He calls for deeper training in football understanding, body language, positioning and player communication to deliver small but decisive performance gains.
- Meier says VAR has eroded referees’ decision-making and urges a model where on-field officials take responsibility with video review as a backstop, citing England under Howard Webb.
- He criticizes Germany’s lower age limit for advancement as a barrier to 26–27-year-olds and former players, warns the same issues will persist without reform, and points to stagnation among leading referees such as Siebert and Jablonski.