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Mourning for Allen Chen: Bremen referee of the year died!
Allen Chen, Bremen referee of the year 2025, died at the age of 38 after a serious battle with cancer – a loss for the sport.
Mourning for Allen Chen: Bremen referee of the year died!
Bremen sport mourns the loss of one of its most loyal souls: Allen Chen, who was only named “Referee of the Year 2025” in June 2023, died at the age of just 38 after a brave battle against serious cancer. His death caused great consternation not only among his colleagues in sports, but also among all football fans in Bremen. The popular referee started his career in 2002 and has been tirelessly active in the association referee squad since 2007.
Chen received the Referee of the Year award as part of the association referees' summer course at the Lastrup district sports school, where association referee chairman Sebastian Schiller proudly presented him with the honor. This was more than just an award for Chen, who thanked his team for their strong solidarity and support in an emotional speech. At this point he was already a highly valued referee who regularly refereed games in the Bremen and regional leagues and also worked as an assistant referee at national level. His highlight was his involvement in the men's LOTTO Cup final, where he shone as the fourth official.
An athlete with heart
Patrick von Haacke, President of the Bremen Football Association, did not miss the opportunity to express his condolences and recognize Allen Chen as a valued referee and a popular comrade. Chen leaves a huge void in the refereeing community, and the sadness surrounding his loss is evident. His commitment to the Bremen Regional Referee Committee and his positive influence on his fellow referees will be remembered just as much as his sporting achievements.
The news of his death cannot be ignored by the awareness of the challenges that cancer poses to competitive athletes. A current discussion about the effects of cancer in competitive sports shows that testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between 25 and 40 years of age. Athletes, like track and field athlete Felix Wittmann, who struggled with similar concerns, often have to think about the course of their careers and are afraid of an abrupt end to their sporting career. The German Competence Center for Competitive Sports and Cancer was created to offer support here and to create an interface between cancer medicine and sports science.
Allen Chen will be remembered not only as a referee, but also as a person with heart and commitment to his sport. His sudden death reminds us to take seriously the challenges of athletes fighting serious illnesses and to support them in their battles. The referee community and the entire football family in Bremen mourn the loss of a sports comrade whose passion and commitment were tireless.