The meeting between Bastia and Lorient, Saturday November 23, as part of the 14th day of the Ligue 2 championship, was marked by projectiles being thrown in the direction of a sideline referee. “Unspeakable facts and rare violence”, according to the union of elite referees.
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Saturday November 23, the match between SC Bastia and FC Lorient, which was played at the Armand-Cesari stadium, was interrupted in the 37th minute of play.
At issue: objects being thrown at the sideline referee. “A reinforced security system will be put in place to protect assistant number 2, to whom we will be very vigilant”, declared the main referee, Willy Delajod. After a 25-minute suspension, the match was able to resume and end with a score of 0-0.
However, the following day, in a press release, the union of elite football referees (SAFE) described “unspeakable facts” et “of rare violence: lighters, food, drinks, insults… On a referee”. “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. […] The affected stand represents a danger and not only for the referees”, alerts SAFE which demands “exemplary sanctions”.
A position to which the Bastia club responded in a press release, this Monday, November 25. If he “firmly condemns these behaviors” and ensures “working, since Saturday evening, to take the necessary measures through video protection”, il “is surprised by the SAFE press release”.
SC Bastia thus qualifies as “deplorable and unacceptable the generalization of these facts to all Bastia supporters and the stigmatization of an entire passionate and exemplary public”. “No feeling of insecurity, 'violence' or 'danger' reigns at the Stade Armand-Cesari. At no time was the physical integrity of any actor put in danger,” he continues.
SC Bastia currently occupies 11th place in the general Ligue 2 standings.
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