According to reports from L'Equipe, confirmed by the public prosecutor's office, a professional French football referee officiating in Ligue 1 is scheduled to appear before the Nimes judicial court on Friday, August 7. The legal proceedings come just two weeks before the resumption of the Ligue 1 championship, with the official suspected of having "voluntarily committed violence" against his companion.
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Subscribe Sekarang →Based on the investigation details, the referee is accused of assaulting his partner of four years on two distinct occasions. The first incident allegedly occurred on March 13 during an argument, during which he reportedly grabbed her by the neck and pulled her by the arms and hair. A second violent episode was recorded on May 13, where he allegedly pulled her by the arm, grabbed her by the shoulders, and pinned her against a wall, resulting in a doctor prescribing a three-day temporary incapacity for work (ITT) for the young woman.
From editorial monitoring of the legal representatives, the plaintiff's lawyer, Me Olivier Morice, emphasized the gravity of the situation. "Domestic violence affects all circles, including that of refereeing. He practices a profession that consists of enforcing the laws of football at a professional level; he should normally know the limits," Morice stated, adding that his client now awaits a landmark decision from the justice system to prevent any future recurrence of such acts.
In response to the accusations, Eric Borghini, the referee's defense lawyer who also serves as the head of the Ligue Mediterranee de football and former president of the federal refereeing commission, declined to comment publicly on the merits of the case. Borghini stated that his client "fully benefits from the presumption of innocence" and will reserve his declarations, arguments, and evidence exclusively for the correctional court.
During police questioning, the referee reportedly described the incidents as reciprocal aggression occurring within a context of severe relationship tension. While he claims to have filed a counter-complaint against his former partner, the Nimes prosecutor's office could not immediately confirm this action. Furthermore, Me Borghini has filed a request for a change of venue, arguing the case should be tried outside of Nimes since the plaintiff practices as a lawyer within that specific jurisdiction.
Observations from the editorial team note that the French Football Federation (FFF) has maintained a cautious stance regarding the official's status. The federation stated that it does "not have official information on this matter" but assured that "when the time comes, if official elements are brought to its attention, the FFF will adapt the response it deems most appropriate, in compliance with its constant requirement for exemplary behavior."