Merk calls age limit on referees discrimination

BERLIN – German referee Markus Merk has described the age limit that is about to force him into international retirement as discriminatory.

Merk, 45, is already at the upper limit for Fifa referees and he will no longer be eligible for international matches after this year. That means his 50th international match in charge, between Norway and Turkey in Euro 2008 qualifying on Saturday, was almost certainly his last.”There shouldn’t be an age limit,” Merk, twice Fifa’s referee of the year, said in an interview with Kicker magazine on Monday.”I could pass the current physical test twice in succession I’m so fit.I feel the strict age limit is discrimination.”A Fifa spokesman said on yesterday there were no plans to change the age limit.Nampa-ReutersThat means his 50th international match in charge, between Norway and Turkey in Euro 2008 qualifying on Saturday, was almost certainly his last.”There shouldn’t be an age limit,” Merk, twice Fifa’s referee of the year, said in an interview with Kicker magazine on Monday.”I could pass the current physical test twice in succession I’m so fit.I feel the strict age limit is discrimination.”A Fifa spokesman said on yesterday there were no plans to change the age limit.Nampa-Reuters