OM: Longoria receives 15-match suspension

" Organized ", " planned ", " oriented "... Pablo Longoria said all the bad things he thought about Jérémy Stinat's refereeing on Saturday, after OM's defeat in Auxerre (3-0) . " It's real corruption ", thundered the young (39 years old) Marseille president . Since then, he has " regretted " this term . The damage was already done. The referees are going to file a complaint for defamation. A fit of anger that is part of a broader context, with the Marseille club multiplying the shots against the whistles of " this shitty championship ", another shattering statement from Longoria, vice-president of the Professional Football League (LFP) in Burgundy. It was time for reckoning this Wednesday, at the Disciplinary Committee.

Longoria was summoned. " I'm waiting for the decision, I was able to explain myself ," he said to journalists on site. However, the members of the said commission did not spare him: the president of Olympique de Marseille was given a 15-match suspension. He will therefore not be able to sit on the LFP Board of Directors on Thursday, in the midst of the TV rights crisis.

Let us recall that Pablo Longoria risked up to six months of suspension , if the LFP Disciplinary Commission had judged his behavior in Burgundy as " intimidating/threatening ". " Is intimidating, any remark, gesture and/or attitude likely to inspire fear or dread ", is described in the regulations of the French Football Federation (FFF). Finally, the commission retained the " rude/insulting " nature of the former Juventus manager in Burgundy. " Is rude, any remark, gesture and/or attitude contrary to decency targeting a person and/or their function. Is insulting, any remark, gesture and/or attitude that seriously affects a person and/or their function ", it is specified in the regulations of the "3F". Maximum penalty in this case? 12 matches.

Let us recall that OM's sporting director, Mehdi Benatia, is currently serving a three-month suspension . Fabrizio Ravanelli, OM's institutional and sporting advisor, was given a three-match ban after his attack on Mr. Stinat's decisions last Sunday. " A scandalous refereeing ," thundered the former Italian international at Auxerre .

Longoria's remarks had provoked a general outcry in the authorities and among referees. The president of the FFF Philippe Diallo had notably "condemned with the greatest firmness" the words of the president of OM. "Questioning the integrity of our referees is defamatory, unacceptable and condemnable" , he had added. Director of refereeing at the FFF, Antony Gautier had castigated "unacceptable remarks" .