“We should distribute a red card to each player who surrounds the referee to protest against one of his decisions, even if it means playing a team at 7 against 10. The German referee Patrick Ittrich can no longer bear the recurring disputes of footballers and made it known at the beginning of January, in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, daily across the Rhine. His radical proposal testifies to a fed up shared by some of his French counterparts.
In football, protesting against the decisions of the referee is, in a way, part of folklore. However, these disputes exasperate the referees and some of the spectators. “When I see an entire team surrounding the referee, I tell myself that we missed something”, estimates Tony Chapron, former man in black of Ligue 1, today consultant for Canal+. This arbitrator, like others, believes that these disputes, which have always existed, are now increasingly virulent.
This observation, Michel Vautrot fully shares. French international referee between 1972 and 1991, the Franc-Comtois deplores permanent protests “which do not exist in any other sport”. For him, the refereeing body also has its share of responsibility in the deterioration of its relations with footballers. “The authorities have robotized the arbitratorshe believes. Give me the name of a referee who has charisma like before? » Mr. Vautrot also emphasizes “a laxity that has lasted too long”.
Lax towards players, referees? Cyril Jeunechamp is certainly not of this opinion. With 138 yellow cards and 20 red cards collected in 510 games during his professional career, the Nîmes had a strained relationship with the referees. “I was a character player more sanctioned than the othersbelieves the French Ligue 1 champion, in 2012, with Montpellier. Some referees abused their power. This is still the case today. They want to show who’s boss with their boxes. » Coach of the U19 (under 19) of SC Bastia for three seasons, Cyril Jeunechamp warns his players not to fall into the same trap as him: “They know not to complain about anything. »
More virulent since Covid-19
“You are a shit referee. » As he leads a U17 District Cup match in October 2022, Enzo Tison takes these words in the face. They are launched by a goalkeeper who has just conceded a fifth goal. “I was shocked and upset. I said to myself that it didn’t only happen to others after all.the 18-year-old recalled.
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