Markus Merk is a three-time World’s Best Referee, World’s Best Referee of the Decade and a sought-after football expert. During his active career, he was one of the world’s most respected and accomplished football referees. Between 1988 and 2008, Markus Merk (*1962) refereed more than 339 Bundesliga matches. From 1992 to 2007, he also officiated internationally as a FIFA referee. In 1993, at the age of 31, he became the youngest referee to take charge of a DFB Cup final. Merk was the only German referee to officiate at two European Championships. He also refereed matches at the World Cups in Korea and Japan and in Germany in 2006, where he was the only German referee in action. Markus Merk was named Germany’s Referee of the Year seven times and World’s Best Referee three times, in 2004, 2005 and 2007. Alongside domestic and international football and his work as a dentist, Dr Markus Merk has another, more important world: in 1991, he began working as a dentist in southern India. In the years that followed, he established independent development projects and supported various aid organisations. In 2021, Markus Merk and his wife founded the Dr Markus und Sabine Merk Stiftung, which recognises, supports and honours young people’s voluntary work. Among many other honours for his sporting achievements and social commitment, Markus Merk received the Federal Cross of Merit in 2005 and was named “Sportler mit Herz” (“Sportsman with Heart”) by the German sports press. Markus Merk is a sought-after speaker as well as a respected television football expert. For several years, he commentated live on the Turkish Süper Lig from Istanbul and appeared on Sky as a refereeing expert.