Is this the final whistle of a very strange match? A meeting of another type with a little more than one goal every four minutes and concluded with the victory of Arles over Septèmes on the river and improbable score of 22-1. Rarely has a Sunday match of the anonymous Regional 2 championship – the 7th hexagonal level – been so talked about. Caused such a controversy… And as many mockeries.
The facts date back to Sunday, May 8. Second, but on equal points with the leader Martigues, Arles returns in extremis – and miraculously – in front of its opponent in the standings before the final day thanks to its wide success which allows it to have a better goal average. For his part, Septèmes, sentenced to relegation, joined R3 through the back door after this correction (22-1). A surprising score.
50 people summoned, only 20 heard
So much so that, quickly and in the face of controversy, the result is frozen. A disciplinary file “for suspicion of fraud” was opened in the process by the Disciplinary Committee of the Mediterranean League. Nearly 50 people – players, managers – were summoned. Only twenty will answer the call and come to testify to defend and justify themselves.
When heard, Salah Nasri, president of Septèmes, explained in particular that if his club “had forfeited, Arles would have cried foul, arguing that Martigues was advantaged” and that “neither he nor his players received any money “. Above all, he regrets that his club has been the target of numerous “allegations which damage its image”.
After almost a month of investigation and hearings, the Commission delivered its verdict on Thursday. She decided “to close this case without further action”. “Considering, however, that despite the serious doubts of the Committee of this meeting concerning the conditions of the meeting, it does not have enough conclusive elements and decisive evidence to qualify a fraud or a breach of the principles set out in the Charter of Ethics and Professional Conduct of Football, and in particular with regard to loyalty and Fair Play, from FC Septèmes and AC Arles”, justifies the commission.
However, the members of this commission do not remove the doubt on an agreement between the two clubs concerned and announce that they will transmit the elements to the Management Committee of the Mediterranean League for possible follow-up. “The benefit of the doubt must be retained with regard to the respondents in this case”, concluded the minutes.
A decision which therefore allows Arles to finally be able to celebrate its accession to the next level.