Football: Felix Brych becomes record referee with over 340 games

Felix Referee Brych has become the sole record referee in the Bundesliga. At the Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. VfB Stuttgart match in front of 53,756 spectators at Borussia Park, the 49-year-old was in charge of a Bundesliga match as a referee on the pitch. He thus overtook Wolfgang Stark, who previously held the record with 344 games.

Brych suffered a cruciate ligament tear in November 2023. After a break due to the injury, he celebrated his comeback in the first main round of the cup in mid-August with the match between VfR Aalen and FC Schalke 04. In the match Borussia Moenchengladbach He played his first first division match against VfB Stuttgart.

“I didn’t come back for the record,” said Brych after his return. His goal was simply to get back into the Bundesliga. “I didn’t want to stop like that,” he said.

The president of the Bavarian Football Association, Christoph Kern, praised Brych for his performance. “This comeback after such a serious injury says everything about Felix, who has worked day in, day out over the last few months to get fit again,” said Kern.

Brych has been a referee for the DFB since 1999. He first took to the pitch in the Bundesliga on August 28, 2004, in the 1:1 match between Hertha BSC and FSV Mainz 05. He has been named Referee of the Year five times. At the end of 2021, he ended his international career by retiring from FIFA and UEFA competitions. In the past, Brych had refereed at two World Cups and two European Championships.