Longoria case: 111 referees from L1 and L2 will file a class action suit for defamation

It is finally in the form of a collective action that the French referees have decided to take their anger to court. According to our information, the 111 men and women officiating in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 are preparing to file a complaint for defamation against Pablo Longoria.

On Sunday, the day after the grotesque accusations of corruption made by the president of Olympique de Marseille in Auxerre, Jérôme Brisard declared that the 19 main referees of L1 would each refer the matter to the prosecutor of their region.

For the sake of simplicity, and at the instigation of the referees' union, SAFE, a single request is about to be finalized. As a reminder, a defendant convicted of public defamation risks a fine of up to 12,000 euros.

For his part, Jérémy Stinat, the referee in charge on Saturday evening for AJA-OM, has already filed a complaint against X after finding the tires of his vehicles punctured at his home in the Landes. "As things stand", the prosecution has not found any "proven link" with his profession.

In the meantime, Pablo Longoria will be questioned on Wednesday late afternoon by the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League. He is risking a lot, despite the apologies made on Monday. "I want to say that there is no corruption in French football," the manager admitted to AFP, stating that the form of his outburst of anger on Saturday "was not appropriate" but was explained by "many refereeing decisions on which (he) considers that OM was disadvantaged."

The range of punishments is quite wide for those who will explain themselves via videoconference: three matches of suspension in the event of "excessive or inappropriate" behavior, four in the event of "hurtful behavior"... Even more serious, "rude or insulting behavior" can result in up to 12 matches of suspension and "intimidating or threatening" behavior in a six-month suspension.