German amateur football referee Pascal Kaiser, who recently went viral for proposing to his boyfriend on a football field during a Bundesliga match, has been attacked.
In late January, the 28-year-old Kaiser got down on one knee to propose to his long-term partner at the RheinEnergieStadion during the half-time break of a FC Köln vs Wolfsburg match.
A crowd of 50,000 cheered the couple as they kissed in joy — a moment supported by FC Köln and widely shared around the world in a video posted on social media.
HE SAID YES! 🌈💍
The moment queer football fan Pascal proposed to his boyfriend before a Bundesliga game.
Pascal Kaiser came out three years ago. He is also an Amateur referee and a huge fan of Bundesliga side Cologne. pic.twitter.com/fx3FdfTIw2
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) February 2, 2026
Kaiser, a vocal advocate for inclusion in football who came out as bisexual in 2021, received many well-wishes. However, the very public proposal also triggered backlash and threats. Disturbingly, he learned that his home address had been made public.
Just over a week later — minutes after informing police that he had received several threats — he was attacked by three men when he went out to his garden to smoke. Kaiser later posted a photo of himself with what appeared to be a black eye following the assault.
“Receiving threats, having my address published, and then being physically assaulted has been particularly distressing. It has affected my sense of security, my mental health, and my daily life,” he told the website SimiliQueer.
“For Moritz and me, this situation represents an enormous emotional strain. We are facing not only fear and uncertainty, but also the pressure of public scrutiny. We are trying to support each other through an extremely difficult situation.”
He added that, “I don’t regret the intention behind the proposal. It was full of love and authenticity. At the same time, I could never have imagined the chain of events that followed, nor the level of hostility that arose.”
German football club St. Pauli expressed its support for Kaiser, stating on Instagram: “Because two people love each other, others strike. We stand together against this hatred and want to show that solidarity and humanity are stronger. Love whoever you want!”
The incident reflects the reality of ongoing and entrenched queerphobia in the sports world — and why so few gay male athletes are willing to come out publicly.
