The referee François Letexier had been, despite himself, the main actor of the match between Nice and Nantes (1-1). At the end of the match, he had aroused immense anger from the people of Nantes and in particular from Antoine Kombouaré, their coach. The reason ? François Letexier had refused to whistle a penalty in the first period for Nantes while whistling very questionable at the very end of the match and allowing the Niçois to equalize. Kombouaré had in particular stigmatized the “dishonesty” of Mr. Letexier. This earned him a summons to appear before the Disciplinary Committee.
In an interview with the Team, François Letexier explains his decisions, recognizes a share of responsibility and, above all, explains that he has filed, for the first time in his career, a complaint after threats and insulting remarks on social networks. . “A referee is used to being judged on his technical decisions,” he explains. But we are less accustomed to being so on his probity and his honesty. As soon as they are addressed to the man, the criticisms have collective consequences which should not be minimized, because they reflect on all the referees, in particular the amateurs. But there are also individual consequences, the many threats suffered in the course of my profession. (bailiff) and on social networks. For the first time, I filed a complaint. »
The referee maintains that he made the right decision on the penalty denied to Nantes but deciphers a misunderstanding with Kombouaré. “When my fourth referee talks to him about “a deviation of the body” after what I told him, he includes, in good faith, the first hand, not sanctionable, he reveals. I was able to explain it to Ludovic Blas, but not to Mr. Kombouaré, even if I waited for him, just before the second half. I probably should have waited longer to clarify these elements, which I was finally able to do on Tuesday. We should also have gone to see the images on the penalty awarded to Nice (transformed by Pepe, 90th + 7). When it ends with so much incomprehension, I necessarily have some responsibility. »