After Monaco – PSG – Harit – Donnarumma and the inconsistencies of French arbitration

Quite frankly, it’s beyond comprehension. Even François Letexier, the best French referee of the moment, the man who officiated during the last Euro final, is tripping over his feet. A month and a half apart, he made two completely contradictory decisions even though they seemed to arise from the same situation.

• On October 28, he expelled Amine Harit during OM – PSG while the Moroccan international involuntarily planted his crampons in the chest of Marquinhos. Letexier then explains clearly: “From the start I see that this gesture is dangerous. Marquinhos then lifts his jersey and I see the mark on his stermun, that’s what made me decide to expel Mr. Harithe then justifies himself on DAZN. We are particularly vigilant about endangering the physical integrity of the adversary. Intentionality does not change the decision that must be applied.” QED. Harit may have not seen Marquinhos, but the marks on the Brazilian’s body convinced the man in black of the heaviest of sanctions.

• This Wednesday, December 18, Wilfried Singo missed his dive ball and trampled Gianluigi Donnarumma’s face. His face lacerated by the Monegasque’s crampons, the Italian goalkeeper is stunned. Bloodied, he leaves the field. But François Letexier decides not to sanction Singo, who has already been warned for a previous fault. However, Donnarumma’s physical integrity is clearly in danger in the action and, even if Singo does not knowingly want to hurt her, the gesture is dangerous.

Two different decisions in the same situation. The VAR does not seem to intervene at the Louis-II stadium and the incomprehension is total. “I’m really having trouble understandingBruno Derrien tells us from his 350 matches refereed among professionals. He considered the mistake reckless but he should have gone to see the images. Faced with Donnarumma’s bloody face, you shouldn’t ask too many questions and put on a direct red. Everyone would have understood. Of course, arbitration remains human and subject to interpretation but we must strive towards a form of uniformity as soon as we can..”

The Harit and Singo cases perfectly illustrate the sometimes variable geometry arbitration that makes supporters and managers so nervous. Just a few hours before Monaco – PSG, in absolutely perfect timing, Pablo Longoria regretted precisely this lack of uniformity at the press conference: “Every weekend, in our championship, there is persistent confusion around the refereeing criteria. When we play in Europe, we know what to expect. We can have good or bad decisions, that’s life. But here, in France, there is a lack of consistencysummed up the president of OM. Decisions vary not only from match to match but sometimes within the same match.“

And to finish his remarks in an example which perfectly suits the events of Wednesday: “For example, contact may be accepted at one point and declined shortly thereafter in similar circumstances. This makes it difficult for players and coaches to understand the rules.” “The Technical Arbitration Department will react fairly quickly, hopes Derrien. And it will be very interesting to know how. Because French arbitration is in a somewhat complicated situation if we also remember the events of Lyon – Nice with a referee who refuses to reverse his decision despite the insistence of the VAR.“The DTA’s communication will perhaps say more. Because on Wednesday, François Letexier did not, this time, speak in front of the microphones. Perhaps because he was less comfortable, coldly, with his decision…