A female referee suffered a concussion when she was knocked to the ground during a melee between male players in a friendly football match between French club Metz and Dutch side Fortuna Sittard on July 26, 2026, in Forbach, eastern France.
Referee Mathilde Demoncay was injured while attempting to intervene in a confrontation between players during the match at Schlossberg Stadium, where both teams were preparing for their new seasons. The incident occurred in the 40th minute after a shirt-tugging dispute escalated into a fight, with multiple players joining the clash. Video footage showed Demoncay falling heavily to the ground, prompting immediate medical attention from assistant referees and security staff.
The Incident Unfolds
The fight broke out after two opposing players clashed over a shirt-tugging incident, with other players quickly joining the confrontation. Demoncay, 26, tried to separate the combatants but was knocked to the turf. A large sign reading Respect the referee
was visible near the pitch, highlighting the tension. The referee remained on the ground for several minutes, holding her arm, before resuming her role as an assistant referee after play restarted. However, she left the field at halftime, with another official taking over her duties.
Fortuna Sittard, who lost the match 3-1, described the episode as a remarkable moment
in their match report, though they did not elaborate further. Metz’s website had no mention of the incident. The referee’s concussion was confirmed by reports, though no details were provided about her current condition or plans for return to action.
According to local media reports, the incident occurred during a friendly match between Metz and Fortuna Sittard, with both clubs preparing for their respective new seasons. The match took place at Schlossberg Stadium in Forbach, eastern France. Video on social media showed Demoncay falling heavily after being knocked in the melee, with assistant referees, security personnel, and medical staff rushing onto the pitch to assess her condition. The fight happened in front of a large sign reading Respect the referee
, which was visible near the stadium’s perimeter.
Fortuna Sittard’s match report, published on their website, referred to the episode as a remarkable moment
but did not provide further commentary. Metz’s official website made no reference to the incident. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter noted that Demoncay was unable to continue after the incident and that she resumed as an assistant referee after play restarted but left the field at half-time. Another assistant took over her duties.
Club Responses and Aftermath
Reporting on the incident was provided by Reuters, with the story attributed to journalist Mark Gleeson and edited by Clare Fallon. The article referenced the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles, which govern the organization’s editorial standards. The Reuters piece emphasized that Demoncay had suffered concussion, as reported by multiple sources, though no further details about her recovery or disciplinary actions were included.
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