“Arbitration is in mourning” : Johan Hamel, who officiated for several seasons in Ligue 1 (L1), died suddenly at the age of 42, announced the Union of Elite Football Referees (SAFE), Wednesday, November 15.
Based in the Hérault, Johan Hamel succumbed to a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) while he was training, specify several media including The Team and the regional daily Free lunch. During his career, he refereed nearly 250 professional matches, including 136 in Ligue 1 as the main referee.
His very first appearance in the elite dates back to March 6, 2011 during a Marseille-Lille, when he officiated at the time mainly in National, the third division of French football. He had found the L1 during the 2015-2016 season.
Johan Hamel was still the main referee on November 6 during Lille-Rennes (1-1, 14e day), before being delegated to video assistance during PSG-Auxerre (5-0) last weekend.
Since the announcement of his death, many clubs and French football officials have paid tribute to him. “His sudden disappearance is a terrible shock (…). On behalf of all of professional football, I send my deepest condolences to Johan’s family and loved ones.”reacted in particular Vincent Labrune, the president of the Professional Football League (LFP), in a press release.
In Doha, where they are preparing for the World Cup, the six French referees selected for the competition saluted the memory of their ” friend “. ” This [mercredi] morning, we learned of the death of Johan Hamel. Johan was more than a referee, he was our friend. Our thoughts go first to his family and his daughterthey reacted in a statement read by one of them, Clément Turpin. All six of us will be thinking of you very much throughout the competition. Rest in peace, John. »