Pascal Kaiser Breaks His Silence And Speaks Out About Trauma Therapy After Two Attacks
German football referee Pascal Kaiser has spoken publicly for the first time since two violent attacks left him physically injured and silent on social media. In a statement posted to Instagram on 10 March, Kaiser confirmed he is seeking professional help and will soon begin an inpatient trauma therapy program.
A quick recap
Kaiser, 29, proposed to his partner Moritz in front of approximately 50,000 fans at FC Köln’s Rhein Energie Stadion in Cologne, Germany, in late January 2026, ahead of a match between FC Köln and VfL Wolfsburg. The moment went viral almost immediately. Kneeling on the pitch, Kaiser told the crowd: “I want everyone to see that I love this person. A man. As a man. In football,” Moritz said yes.
Within days, his home address was leaked online. Threats followed. Kaiser reported them to police, who told him there was no immediate danger. Twenty minutes after that call, three men were waiting for him in his garden. He was attacked and sustained an injury to his right eye.
Two days later, on 9 February, he was attacked again, this time by two individuals at his front door, who beat him in the face and torso. According to French sports outlet L’Équipe, police arrived 30 minutes after the second attack was reported.
Going quiet
After both attacks, Kaiser went dark on Instagram. His personal account and the couple’s shared account were both set to private. On 2 March, he posted a cryptic message to his story, which prompted fans and supporters to flood his inbox with concern. As of this writing, his Instagram account (@pascalkaiser98) appears to have been deactivated entirely.
What he said
On 10 March, Kaiser broke his silence. He confirmed he is already receiving support and is preparing to enter an inpatient trauma therapy program to work through his experiences.
“Sometimes fighting doesn’t mean being strong all the time,” he wrote. “Sometimes it simply means getting through one day after another.”
Why this matters
Kaiser came out as bisexual in 2021 and is one of very few openly queer referees in professional football. His visibility has always been intentional. In a previous interview with German LGBTQIA+ publication Schwulissimo, he said: “I see this as my mission: to create visibility. To be a voice. And to encourage people who aren’t yet brave enough to speak up. I know how lonely it can be to think you’re the only one. I want no one to have to feel that way again.”
The attacks drew widespread condemnation. FC Köln called it a “cowardly attack” and reaffirmed its commitment to equality. Carla Antonelli, Spain’s first openly transgender senator, shared a photo of Kaiser’s injuries on Instagram, writing: “Terrible message: if you make yourself visible, we’ll put you in the closet.”
That message was sent. Kaiser is still here.
