Sometimes you hear about bizarre moments in sports, and you figure there’s nothing that can top them — but then reality goes and outdoes itself. 

In Germany’s eighth division, there was a scheduled match between FC Taxi Duisburg II and SV Rot-Weiss Mülheim that will go down in history for the strangest reason imaginable. It wasn’t a controversial penalty or a wild brawl that got the game canceled — it was something that left everyone scratching their heads in disbelief. I promise you, this story is every bit as odd as it sounds.

Pre-Match Chaos: A Child on the Pitch

Let’s set the stage: The referee of the day, a man named Stefan Kahler, was going about his usual duties before the match started. As standard practice in lower-division soccer, refs must verify the identification of each player, ensuring nobody’s sneaking in who shouldn’t be on the field. 

While he was meticulously checking IDs, there was a child on the pitch — reportedly the son of one of FC Taxi’s players — doing a little warm-up routine alongside the grown-ups. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

Things took a turn for the bizarre when this kid, without warning, decided to wander right up to Kahler. Now, children can be unpredictable — anyone who’s ever even babysat knows you keep an eye on them because they might say or do something unexpected. 

But this wasn’t just a silly prank or a bit of playful disruption. Out of nowhere, the child gave the referee what was described as a very sharp bite in the left testicle. Yes, you read that correctly. That alone is enough to make any grown man's eyes water.

In Kahler's own words:

"While I was checking the FC Taxi players’ ID, a small child was doing warm-up exercises alongside the players. He came closer and closer to me, then suddenly — to my complete surprise — gave me a sharp bite in my left testicle."

Referee Down: Game Canceled on the Spot

According to Kahler’s official match report, the pain was instantaneous and overwhelming. In fact, it was so severe that he physically couldn’t continue officiating. 

With Kahler unable to stand or move comfortably — let alone run up and down a soccer pitch — there was no way the match could go on. There wasn’t another qualified referee around, so the game was canceled on the spot.

Sympathy for the Ref: A Truly Unique Injury

Now, let’s be fair: People have a tendency to make light of weird moments, especially in sports, but you have to have a bit of sympathy for Kahler. A child biting you where the sun doesn’t shine is no laughing matter, even if it does lend itself to plenty of cheeky headlines. 

There’s still no information on the identity of the player’s child or any explanation as to why he decided that a referee’s anatomy was the target of choice. Some speculate that the kid might have been feeling playful or had gotten scared, but nobody can say for sure. 

Honestly, you can’t predict that kind of behavior. No one’s setting up pre-match safety briefings about children on the field.

Lower-Division Soccer: Usually More Tame

To be clear, FC Taxi Duisburg II and SV Rot-Weiss Mülheim are used to playing in front of modest crowds in the lower-tier leagues. Most of the time, these matches go off with minimal fuss, bringing local fans together for a fun afternoon and maybe some heated but fair competition. 

That’s the charm of lower-division soccer: it’s down-to-earth, community-focused, and often free from the hype machine that can dominate top-flight matches.

What Happens Next?

Both sides will have to agree on a future date to try again. But perhaps the biggest question still remains: Will Kahler be the man in the middle again? If so, will he be taking any precautionary measures? 

Let’s just say he might want to keep a close watch on the sidelines, or ask the coaching staff to ensure all children are seated safely in the stands.

A Moment That Won’t Be Forgotten

In the grand scheme of things, this is one of those “believe it or not” times that will get passed around for years to come. Soccer has seen its fair share of dramatic, silly, or downright shocking moments, but you can’t help feeling that this one might land on the short list of all-time oddities. 

If there’s any silver lining, it’s that Kahler will likely recover, and hopefully, this lesson in unpredictable sports scenarios will remain purely anecdotal going forward. Hopefully, the next time these two teams take the pitch, the only thing biting will be the competition — because this is one pregame incident nobody wants to see repeated.