Marseille President Pablo Longoria Handed 15-Match Ban for Controversial Comments on Refereeing

Marseille president Pablo Longoria has been issued a 15-match suspension by Ligue 1 authorities following his explosive remarks about French referees after his team’s 3-0 defeat to Auxerre last Saturday.

Longoria’s outburst, in which he accused referees of "true corruption," sparked significant controversy, leading to swift action from the French league’s disciplinary committee. He claimed that Marseille had been unfairly treated by match officials, even suggesting an orchestrated effort against the club. However, in the aftermath of the backlash, Longoria has since apologized for his statements.

The league's ruling means Longoria is prohibited from engaging in "all official functions," including access to the bench, locker rooms, tunnel, field, and surrounding areas. His suspension will take effect next Tuesday and extend into the 2025/26 season, affecting Marseille’s crucial campaign for a Champions League spot.

Adding to the controversy, former Marseille striker and current club advisor Fabrizio Ravanelli also criticized referee Jérémy Stinat’s handling of the game, claiming the official "did not know what he was doing." Ravanelli has received a three-match suspension for his remarks.

Stinat, who oversaw the match, later revealed he had received death threats following the encounter but maintained his professionalism, stating in an interview with L’Equipe that he would have no issue officiating Marseille matches in the future.

Despite issuing an apology, Longoria defended his initial frustration, citing linguistic misunderstandings regarding his use of the term "corruption." He emphasized that he never intended to suggest financial misconduct, stating, "In Spanish, the word has a broader meaning, but that doesn’t excuse my remarks. A club president must conduct himself with greater responsibility."

The decision to penalize Longoria comes just a month after the French Football Federation’s ethics council had previously warned him for comments discrediting referees during Marseille’s clash with Strasbourg in January. The council noted that he had disregarded the warning and escalated his criticisms further in the aftermath of the Auxerre loss.

Marseille’s defeat to Auxerre, their fifth of the season, saw them fall 10 points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who strengthened their grip on the title race with a 3-2 victory over Lyon. Meanwhile, Auxerre’s win propelled them to 11th place in the standings.

While Longoria will be able to attend Marseille’s upcoming fixture against Nantes on Sunday, his lengthy ban will cast a shadow over the club’s aspirations for the remainder of the campaign and into next season. His suspension underscores Ligue 1’s firm stance against public criticism of match officials and aims to maintain the integrity of officiating within French football.

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