Lehmann may quit in ref protest

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann says he may retire from football in protest at the standard of refereeing in Germany's Bundesliga.

The Stuttgart goalkeeper was unhappy after picking up his third booking for dissent this season.

"I may as well not bother playing in future. I didn't even say anything nasty to the referee," he said.

"Surely there are better ones. Things can't go on like this. It's sad for the whole of the Bundesliga."

During the summer the 39-year-old returned to playing in Germany after five years playing in England.

"These are referees for us and not for the two people in the stands who are writing a report about him," he said after his booking in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

"What that man did was unbelievable," he said.

"A Frankfurt player feigned an injury so we could not counter-attack.

"The referee said he had to stop play for the injury and then the man stands up and doesn't even leave the field to be treated.

"I told the referee, 'Look! There he goes!' and he shows me a yellow card - incredible."