The intense pressure on those involved in football has been thrown into question again in Germany after a top referee attempted to take his own life just before he was due to officiate a Bundesliga game.
Two years after the tragic death of German goalkeeper Robert Enke, who took his life after battling depression for several years, this latest news ref has sent shockwaves through the German league.
German league referee Babak Rafati was discovered in the bathtub of his hotel room in Cologne by his assistant referees early on Saturday afternoon.
The 41-year-old's condition was later stabilised in hospital and he is expected to be moved out of intensive care in the next few days.
