The German Football Federation (DFB) revealed that its Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga referees "will receive a base salary starting with the '12-13 seasons," according to WELT AM SONNTAG. Under the new payment model, the three German FIFA referees -- Wolfgang Stark, Felix Brych and Florian Meyer -- will get a base salary of €40,000 ($49,000) a year. Bundesliga referees with "more than five years of experience" will earn €30,000 ($36,700) annually. The rest will earn €20,000 ($25,500). Second Bundesliga referees and FIFA assistants will make €15,000 ($19,000) a year. Bundesliga assistants will get €10.000 ($12,200), and 2nd Bundesliag assistants will be rewarded with €2,500 ($3,100). Those base salaries will be paid "regardless of how many games a referee officiates." In addition to the base salaries, referees will continue to "receive fees for each game they officiate." Bundesliga referees will get €3,800 ($4,700) per game. Second Bundesliga referees and Bundesliga assistants will receive €2,000 ($2,500) a game. Second Bundesliga assistants will get €1,000 ($1,200), and even the fourth official will get a €1,000 in the first league and €500 ($610) in the second league for each game. Still the referees "will not have an employment contract" with the DFB. DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach said, "We will never have professional referees. The referees want to keep their regular jobs" (WELT AM SONNTAG, 7/15).
