“Scandalous remarks”: the scathing response of the referees after the heavy accusations of the president of OM

“No, Mr. Longoria, French referees are not corrupt! The Syndicate of Football Referees (SAFE) seized the National Ethics Committee on Sunday after the words of the president of Olympique de Marseille Pablo Longoria who spoke of “corruption” after the defeat in Auxerre (3-0) on Saturday evening.

“Losing a match cannot justify calling into question the probity of French referees,” the union of elite football referees wrote in a statement. Longoria’s “particularly scandalous comments” throw “pasture all the referees officiating at professional but also amateur levels,” added Safe.

“Complaints will be filed for defamation. And against all those behind the hateful messages and death threats received since last night, “said the union, in addition to his decision to” seize the National Ethics Committee “.

Safe calls for “more restraint”

“It’s real corruption!” Launched OM president passing by journalists in the corridors of the Abbé-Deschamps stadium after the broad setback against AJA. Another furious Marseille leader against arbitration, sports and institutional advisor Fabrizio Ravanelli described Jérémy Stinat as “scandalous”. He “did anything,” said the Italian.

Before the meeting, OM had publicly regretted that Jérémy Stinat was appointed for this meeting. He was the fourth referee of the French Cup match against Lille who earned the director of football Mehdi Benatia to be suspended for three months.

SAFE “calls more than ever club presidents to show ever more restraint and responsibility, by not yielding to temptation too easy to accuse the referees of all evils,” concluded the union.