The Ligue 2 match between Bastia and Lorient could have gone very badly, and the referees' union wanted to make a big rant.
Unacceptable scenes took place in Bastia this Saturday during the Corsicans' match against Lorient. It all started when the referee of the match, Mr. Willy Delajod, gave a red card to Jocelyn Janneh, author of a terrible tackle on Julien Ponceau. From then on, things degenerated and the Bastia “supporters” threw projectiles at the assistant referee, causing the match to be stopped. A decision which was even contested by the players, managers and the “security” of the Corsican club, who wanted to prevent the referees from returning to the locker room. Eventually, things calmed down and the match was able to end in a tense atmosphere.
But the referees' union did not appreciate these excesses, at a time when referees are easy targets and in Ligue 1 as in Ligue 2, we no longer hesitate for a second to accuse the officials of all evils. . Lately, from OM to OL, via PSG, Lens, Brest or Lille, even Paris FC in Ligue 2, the criticism has become increasingly harsh. The referees' union denounced this deleterious climate, and the fact that we will have to wait until something serious happens to act, as could have been the case this weekend in Bastia. “ The events that occurred yesterday during the meeting between SC Bastia and FC Lorient are unspeakable and of rare violence: Lighters, food, drinks, insults… on a referee. A situation of total insecurity which did not prevent us from going to the end of the match. What an example (…). Last season, we had racist insults. This season, we are increasing the level of violence again. How far will we have to go to understand the stupidity and danger of such actions that we allow to take place? One day it will be too late, and we will blame ourselves », denounced the referees' union, which suggests that the officials will eventually have to go on strike or withdraw to understand that without them, the matches cannot take place.
Suffice it to say that the sanctions against Bastia will be closely scrutinized even if, in Corsica or elsewhere, it has been a long time since referees have been untouchable game directors.
