A former Bundesliga referee who attempted to take his own life in 2011 has revealed how Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger reached out to him.
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Babak Rafati made an attempt on his own life while still working as a referee in Germany in November 2011, after coming under fire for a number of mistakes.
The ref slashed his wrists in a Cologne hotel bathroom on the morning of a match and was found unconscious after his assistants raised the alarm when he failed to appear for a pre-game briefing.
Rafati has opened up about his terrible experience, and revealed how he got a personal letter from the former Germany captain after his ordeal.
"I woke in a hospital bed. It was a terrible moment, and my first thought was that I would plan things next time I tried to kill myself and do the job properly," Rafati told Swiss newspaper Blick.
"I had been bullied for 18 months beforehand. People wanted to get rid of me for telling the truth.
"Since my suicide attempt no one from the German FA has been in touch, but all my fellow refs got in contact.
"And Bastian Schweinsteiger wrote me a letter that moved me greatly.
"There was no ulterior motive on his part, as he knew that I would no longer be able to referee after this incident.
"He wrote: 'Mr Rafati, people often make mistakes in life, but we simply have to make comebacks even more often. I wish you all the very best.'
"It was an incredibly big, human gesture on his part.
"Depression is still a huge taboo in football. Since that time I have been working as a mind coach with three Bundesliga players.
"I can rule out wanting to kill myself again. I now know that I was crazy, and life is too beautiful to destroy oneself."
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