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Bastian Schweinsteiger Wrote to Babak Rafati After Referee's Suicide Attempt

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

German football icon Bastian Schweinsteiger offered support to Babak Rafati in 2011 after the former Bundesliga referee attempted suicide.

According to Swiss newspaper Blick (h/t Mark Lovell of ESPN FC), the Manchester United star, then of Bayern Munich, reached out to Rafati during a tough time in his life and career.

“Mr Rafati, there's often setbacks in life,” Schweinsteiger is said to have stated. “But you have to bounce back each time. I wish you all the best.”

Speaking about the exchange, Rafati said it meant a lot to him.