Ligue 1: a second referees' union denounces Pablo Longoria's remarks

The National Union of Football Referees (UNAF) also denounced Pablo Longoria's comments on Wednesday, the day the OM president appeared before the LFP disciplinary committee, and gave its support to Jérémy Stinat, the Auxerre-Marseille referee. As with the Safe, the elite referees' union, on Sunday, Longoria's comments after OM's defeat in Auxerre (3-0) caused a " terrible " "shock " for the UNAF, which brings together all amateur and professional referees. In its press release, the union joined "the steps taken by all referees in the professional sector to sue the president of Olympique de Marseille for defamation."

Furious with Mr. Stinat's refereeing, Pablo Longoria had declared after the match: "This is real corruption!" as he passed journalists in the corridors of the Abbé-Deschamps stadium, remarks that sparked an intense controversy and pushed the Spanish leader to make his mea culpa Monday in an interview with AFP. His remarks earned him a summons before the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League, Wednesday late afternoon. He faces a heavy sanction.

In its press release, UNAF also expressed "its full support for Jérémy Stinat and firmly condemns all the abuses or other incidents to which he and his family are unfortunately subjected" . Jérémy Stinat filed a complaint for "damage to a vehicle" and "death threats" , he indicated in the newspaper Sud-Ouest, after finding the tires of his vehicles punctured at his home in the Landes. The prosecution, "as it stands" , did not mention on Tuesday any "proven link" with his profession, the events having taken place "before the match" on Saturday. "It's a difficult time to live through" , declared the referee, regarding the damage to his vehicles and the impact it has on his family. "From now on, we pay attention to everything. We are a discreet family, who want to keep our living environment intact. I didn't think that things like this could happen to us" .