Manchester United midfielder and World Cup winning captain Bastian Schweinsteiger has been praised for an act of humanity when he reached out to a former Bundesliga referee during a battle with depression that nearly cost him his life.
Babak Rafati has detailed in an interview with Swiss publication Blick [via ESPN] how he attempted to take his life on the morning that he was due to referee a Bundesliga fixture between Cologne and Mainz back in 2011.
Rafati explained that the pressures of his line of work, the abuse he would regularly receive from all corners, and what he describes as bullying tactics from the German FA lead him into a dark spiral where he attempted to take his own life. After being found by hotel staff and police in the bathtub of his hotel room on the day of the match, the referee's life was saved.
During his recovery, Rafati told of his shame and fears that his wife would leave him, but a letter from one Bastian Schweinsteiger deeply moved him and gave him hope moving forward.
Bastian Schweinsteiger wrote me a letter, which touched me very much. I was deeply moved. He didn't have to do that. He knew I would never referee again after this incident. It was an incredibly humane gesture.
He said: "Mr Rafati, there's often setbacks in life. But you have to bounce back each time. I wish you all the best."
A great human gesture. But depression is still a big taboo in football. I am now working with three Bundesliga professionals as a mental coach.
Rafati has managed to use his experience to help others, and aside from working as a mental coach where he helps footballers to battle the feelings that once nearly ended his life, he has also written a book on depression in the hopes of making his learnings more accessible.
The main reason you'll see cries of joy any time Schweinsteiger features for Man Utd these days, and why there was outrage when Mourinho tried to remove him from the picture at Old Trafford, is that he comes across as a really decent person, and one of the good guys in football.
The message from Schweinsteiger may seem like a small gesture, but it had a big impact, largely due to how alienated Rafati had been made feel by the German FA.
Good guy Bastian strikes again, after he won the hearts of this nation with his warmness towards the family of Nick Schuster who lost his life in the Berkley tragedy of 2015.
