Giulia Gwinn expresses her viewpoint that the event in question appears baseless to her.
In Bremen, national women's team captain Giulia Gwinn of FC Bayern Munich has expressed dismay over the sexist insults hurled at referee Fabienne Michel during a men's third-division match. The incident, which took place between Rot-Weiss Essen and SC Verl, has been denounced as a clear indication of intolerance that hasn't sufficiently progressed.
Gwinn stated, "This incident underscores that we have yet to achieve the level of tolerance we should have. It's astounding that in 2025, we're still grappling with these issues." The controversy unfolded during the second half, as fans directed discriminatory chants towards Michel, focusing on her gender.
Rot-Weiss Essen has been penalized €20,000 by the German Football Federation (DFB) for the fans' behavior, with a portion of the fine earmarked for preventive measures against discrimination. Additionally, Michel has filed a civil lawsuit.
Before Germany's Nations League match in Bremen on Friday, Gwinn emphasized the importance of unity and action amid such incidents. She noted, "We women, both in society and football, need to stand together. We can't just accept this." Gwinn sees herself as a voice for change, advocating for strong opinions and personalities to drive progress.
Previously, referee chief Knut Kircher had condemned the fans' behavior towards Michel, describing the chants as "discriminatory and degrading."
Efforts are ongoing to combat sexist insults and discrimination in football. New initiatives include legislative and judicial actions, educational and awareness campaigns, and support from the broader football community. However, the fabric of change will require increased sanctions, fan education programs, and continued legal and social advocacy.
- Gwinn, being a advocate for womens-health and change, recognized the incident as a clear indication of intolerance that hasn't sufficiently progressed in the field of science, particularly health-and-wellness and sports.
- She expressed her dismay over the sexist insults hurled at referee Fabienne Michel during a men's sports event, such as football, in a European-league, mentioning the German Football Federation (DFB)'s penalty on Rot-Weiss Essen for the fans' behavior.
- In light of the controversy, Gwinn reiterated the importance of unity and action against such discriminatory chants, emphasizing that women, both in society and sports, including football, need to stand together to drive progress.
- As a voice for change, Giulia Gwinn is supporting new initiatives like legislative and judicial actions, educational and awareness campaigns, and broad community support. She believes that these efforts must encompass increased sanctions, fan education programs, and continuous legal and social advocacy to bring about long-lasting change.
