The French referee did not take any disciplinary action after the violent clash between the former Toro and Gigio in Monaco-PSG
Facial trauma and multiple wounds for Donnarumma, further tests scheduled in these hours and a safe stop for several days. This is the medical verdict for Donnarumma after the bloody clash with Singo who hit him in the face a game clash during Monaco-PSG. The decision of referee Letexier not to even book the former Torino player, who had already received a yellow card before the collision with Donnarumma, caused a lot of discussion.
The clash between Singo and Donnarumma
It all happened halfway through the first half, when the Italian goalkeeper came out of the goal to close the space for the Ivorian full-back, who however hit him squarely with his right foot, getting all his studs stuck in his face. Donnarumma collapsed to the ground. The match was interrupted for several minutes while PSG medical staff treated the PSG goalkeeper. Eventually, they managed to stop the bleeding after placing 10 staples in his right cheekbone.
Why Letexier didn’t expel Singo
Singo, who had already received a yellow card, was not sent off even though the action was subjected to a VAR review, as it was not a foul, but a “fortuitous clash of play”. It may seem paradoxical but it was the right decision. Letexier has long been not only the best French referee, after overtaking the excellent Turpinbut one of the best referees in the world if not the #1 overall.
The meeting between Letexier and Donnarumma in Milan
Born in Bédée, a municipality with more than 4 thousand inhabitants located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in the Brittany region, on 23 April 1989. The French whistle was the youngest to make his debut in Ligue 1, at 25 years old. François Letexier had already met Donnarumma recently, when last November at San Siro before Italy-France he was awarded as winner of the sixth edition of the “Giulio Campanati” award, resulting the best match director of Euro 2024. The award was awarded in memory of the “Presidentissimo”, who was head of The Hague from 1972 to 1990, by a jury made up of managers, former referees and journalists.
“It’s a great honor for me to be here – said Letexier – because I know how much this trophy means and because I succeed great referees who preceded me, such as Orsato for example. Seeing my name with them is something extraordinary, a dream come true. When Giorgio Campanati called me to tell me about the award, I was as incredulous as when they nominated me for the European Championship final.”
Who is Francois Letexier
With the farewell of Orsato, the decline of Turpin and the decline of Taylor, today Letexier is in fact considered the No. 1 in the world of referees. At Euro2024 he made his debut as the fourth official in the inaugural Germany-Scotland match, the one that cut off his compatriot Turpin who was among the huge favorites on the eve of refereeing the final. His direction on his debut was completely wrong: already on the first evening the possibility of directing the final act was at stake. Then it was a crescendo for Letexier.
He made his debut very well, in Croatia-Albania, repeating himself with excellent marks in Denmark-Serbia, again in the group stage, and in Spain-Georgia in the round of 16 before directing the final. The Frenchman has 66 UEFA matches under his beltinternational since 2017, last season he faced five Champions League matches (including the second leg of the quarter-finals between Real Madrid and Manchester City) as well as the European Super Cup between Manchester City and Sevilla in 2023.
