A German soccer referee, celebrated for a public proposal to his boyfriend during a Bundesliga match, is now at the center of a complex and escalating series of accusations and investigations. Pascal Kaiser, 27, was assaulted outside his home in Cologne on February 7, an attack that followed a surge of online threats and a public dispute with a former employer.
The initial experience-good story unfolded on January 30, when Kaiser proposed to his partner, Moritz, before a match between FC Köln and VfL Wolfsburg at the RheinEnergieStadion. The proposal, intended as a visible statement of acceptance, was broadcast by DAZN and widely shared on social media, garnering over 168,000 views on a YouTube short published by ZDF. Kaiser told the Tagesspiegel newspaper that his partner desired a “substantial” proposal and that visibility was important, stating, “This sport needs role models. Otherwise, people feel alone.”
However, the positive attention quickly turned contentious. On February 2, Beerpongbar, a Cologne establishment where Kaiser previously worked as operations manager, published a lengthy Instagram post accusing him of theft and fraud. The bar alleged Kaiser absconded with approximately €8,500 (roughly $10,040 USD) in takings, vending machine revenue and advance expenses, as well as an unreturned laptop. They claimed to possess chat logs, video, and witness statements supporting their accusations, and had filed a police report in July 2024.
Dr. Oliver Strank, the legal representative for Beerpongbar, confirmed to The Athletic that Kaiser was initially dismissed for “misbehaviour with money” and subsequently terminated for failing to return the funds. The bar’s accusations included claims of embezzled weekly turnover (€3,300), vending machine funds (€700), unreturned expenses (€1,450), and the value of the laptop (€600), as well as hosting unauthorized parties without payment.
The Koln public prosecutor’s office confirmed to The Athletic that a criminal complaint was filed against Kaiser in July 2024 for theft and related charges. The initial investigation was paused in early 2025 due to a lack of information regarding Kaiser’s whereabouts, but was reopened later in 2025 and remains ongoing.
Following the accusations, German tabloid Bild approached Kaiser, publishing an article on February 5 that included a photograph of his home and his name on the door. Kaiser declined to comment, referring the reporter to his lawyer, who denied all charges.
The situation escalated further with reports of online threats directed at Kaiser. His lawyer, Moritz Lange, stated that Kaiser received threats, some containing his address, following the public proposal and the accusations from Beerpongbar. Kaiser temporarily made his Instagram account private and contacted the police, who increased patrols around his home.
On February 7, while outside his home for a cigarette, Kaiser was attacked by three unidentified men, sustaining injuries to his face and ribs, according to his lawyer. He shared photographs of his injuries with L’Equipe, the French sports daily. Lange has suggested that Beerpongbar may have been responsible for publicizing Kaiser’s address, a claim vehemently denied by the bar’s legal representative, Dr. Strank. Dr. Strank stated that his client only seeks financial restitution and expects the public prosecutor’s office to pursue the case diligently.
The Koln police have yet to determine a motive for the assault, but the case has drawn attention from Sophie Koch, the federal government’s commissioner for the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity, who condemned the violence and urged solidarity. Rumors of a second attack on Kaiser have circulated in the German media, but The Athletic has been unable to independently verify those claims.
On February 18, the Koln public prosecutor’s office announced a fresh investigation, stating they are investigating a man in Wermelskirchen on suspicion of fabricating criminal offenses, including faking injuries and sending threatening messages to himself. Pascal Kaiser’s new lawyer, Dr. Ramon Thal, declined to comment on the investigation, requesting privacy for his client and caution against speculation.
Kaiser, through his lawyer, continues to deny the accusations made by Beerpongbar, stating he will not comment further on the matter or the ongoing police investigations.
