Bbasketball referee Benjamin Barth was dismissed from the Euroleague because he refused to shave his beard. The story, reported exclusively by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, caused a stir. The legal dispute ended with an apology from the league. But the 43-year-old Barth will never referee again in the Euroleague.
For the new season, the Euroleague deleted the German referee from their squad. “It’s true, I didn’t receive an invitation anymore,” confirms Barth. “The relevant documents have already been sent to the referees. I haven’t received any.”
However, Barth had expected this after he had made the unbelievable demands of the Euroleague referee Richard Stokes public. “It was clear and I wouldn’t have decided otherwise. Of course, it was always my dream to whistle in the Euroleague – but after this story, neutral work as a referee would no longer have been possible. I have finished with the topic and will continue to whistle in the BBL (Basketball Bundesliga/ed.Red.).”
After the story, Barth called many referees. But none of those who had shaved their beards after a Stokes threat: “That shows how great the fears of professional colleagues are that their own economic existence is at risk,” explains Barth. “But I think the release still brought something. The topic is now present and further discrimination should at least be avoided.”
After all: Barth will receive the minimum sum of 13,000 euros for the past season. The four games he whistled in the fall are deducted – €8,150 remain. “The Euroleague has informed me that I should issue an invoice.”
So far, there have been no consequences for the 54-year-old Stokes. The Englishman is still in office. However, there are said to be voices in the Euroleague headquarters calling for the post to be filled.
