German, European and international handball is shocked by the death of the German referee couple Reiner and Bernd Methe. The twins aged 47 – international referees since 1998 – died on Friday evening, 11 November in a car accident on their way to the German Handball Bundesliga match Balingen vs. Magdeburg. Both were married and leave behind in total three children. On a regional road their new car hit a truck – but the cause of this fatal accident is still unknown. The local public prosecutors have started an investigation in this case.

Methe/Methe were nominated for the Women’s World Championship in Brazil in December. Methe/Methe were one of the most experienced referee couples in Europe and the world, as they not only whistled the final of the Men’s EHF EURO 2010 in Vienna, but also several European Cup and Champions League finals and were referees at the 2007 Women’s World Championship in France. Since 1993 they had whistled 670 Bundesliga matches in Germany and additionally 206 IHF/EHF matches.

IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa said: “This is a great loss for international handball. In the name of the International Handball Federation, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Bernd and Reiner Methe.”