Ittrich seeks German FA action as he becomes fourth injured referee

Top referee Patrick Ittrich, who is one of four Bundesliga officials out injured, has calling on the German Football Federation to limit the physical strain on referees.

"Unlike the players, we don't train with a team. I stand alone on the pitch. In the event that something happens to me, I have to build up a network, organize a doctor and a physio," Ittrich, who also works as a police officer, said in an interview with web.de on Tuesday.

"A lot of players have already complained about the problem of playing so many games. This is also the case for referees."

Ittrich, 45, is out of action due to a "serious" muscle injury. Deniz Aytekin, Robert Schröder and Frank Willenborg are the other injured referees.

"It may be a coincidence. On the other hand, Aytekin and Willenborg are also over 40 years old," said Ittrich, who added that referees are fitter than ever but that eventually something gives.

"You can't argue away their age. Travelling from match to match in particular is a challenge for the body."

In contrast to the Bundesliga, referees in the English Premier League are now fully professional and have no second jobs.