Colin Abgrall, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: DAMIEN MEYER / AFP
While Ligue 2 resumes this weekend, French arbitration will reform. During a press conference held this Thursday at the French Football Federation (FFF), the refereeing management indicated that it wanted to increase the effective playing time during matches which could then become longer.
One week before the start of the Ligue 1 football season, French arbitration will be reformed. During a press conference held this Thursday at the French Football Federation (FFF), the arbitration department presented the changes to come for this season on both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 grounds. This will take effect this weekend and the first key measure is the extension of the matches which will last longer than usual.
Fewer fouls, more added time
Making football more attractive is one of the main lines of the project of Antony Gautier, the director of French arbitration. During the World Cup in Qatar, when the fourth referee posted 10 to 15 minutes of stoppage time, it was a general surprise, but this may be the case on Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 pitches this season. “It will be more nuanced. In France, we are on a more precise recovery from stoppage time with really the celebration of goals as a high point and then all the elements which are only intended to waste time or All of this must be taken into account with managerial freedom in taking into account these stoppages in play”, underlines Stéphane Lannoy, in charge of professional arbitration.
Extended additional time, but not only. The Refereeing Department wants to make the game more fluid by no longer whistling minor contacts and by forcing the assistant referees to raise their flag quickly during an obvious offside to return to the game as quickly as possible. Fewer faults, more more time in short, more football, that has it all. We will have to carefully scrutinize the start of Ligue 2 this Saturday to see the new French arbitration at work.