The president of Toulouse FC Damien Comolli violently criticized the French refereeing on Sunday after the draw between his club and Brest (1-1) during the 19th day of Ligue 1, affirming that the opener of the score of the Bretons was tainted with a fault. “I showed the screenshot of the image to the fourth referee at halftime. He had an incredible lack of respect by pushing me away and saying + Do not talk to me, do not talk to me! +”, first denounced Damien Comolli.
Steve Mounié scored the game’s first goal in the 18th minute. But the president of Téfécé believes that the prior aerial duel between Brestois Christophe Hérelle and Toulouse defender Rasmus Nicolaisen should have resulted in a free kick for his team.
“It is the symbol of fifteen years of arrogance and mediocrity in French arbitration, of which I am convinced that Mr. (Antony) Gautier (the new technical director of arbitration in France, editor’s note) will be the worthy heir “, he continued.
“We have it all wrong, the referees have it all wrong, French football has it all wrong. I was one of the most vocal people for there to be a change at the head of the refereeing but unfortunately there will not be. We cannot change the culture of arbitration – which we absolutely need – with the same people, ”said the Toulouse president. Antony Gautier, a 45-year-old international referee, was appointed on January 6 to the position of Technical Director of Arbitration (DTA) in place of Pascal Garibian.
One of his competitors, Stéphane Lannoy, was preferred by elite clubs. He was appointed “technical director in charge of professional arbitration”. Garibian’s departure was decided under pressure from club presidents, whom the former DTA had mostly alienated.
At the end of the 19th day of Ligue 1, Toulouse occupies the 12th place in Ligue 1 with eight points ahead of Brest, first relegated.