Continuation and end. Clément Turpin has definitely won his legal tussle against a journalist from OL TV, the club’s channel. After the match Lyon – Lille (0-1) played on February 27, 2022, the arbitration of Clément Turpin had been commented on in an “offensive” way, estimated the correctional court of Caen on October 6. A conviction which was confirmed by the Court of Appeal on March 3.
The commentator, who had notably described the French referee as “dishonest”, was thus sentenced to a fine of 2,000 euros suspended at the criminal level with entry in his criminal record. In addition, civil sanctions were pronounced with a fine of 1,000 euros in damages to the referee and 2,500 euros in procedural costs and 1 euro to be paid to the Union of Elite Football Referees (SAFE) which also filed a complaint. The commentator apologized the day after the match for his remarks during one of his broadcasts.
“It is important that people understand that you cannot insult, intimidate and threaten a referee with impunity, whatever his level, explains Clément Turpin to the Team. Sometimes we make mistakes, yes. We may not agree with our decisions but there are lines that should not be crossed. Intimidation, inappropriate comments and threats are part of it. At the professional level, we are protected but our amateur colleagues unfortunately do not always have this security. The message sent with these court decisions is clear: threat, aggressiveness, intimidation towards a referee: NO under penalty of strong sanctions! “.