Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
February 27 – Olympique de Marseille’s Spanish president Pablo Longoria has been handed a whopping 15-game ban following an outburst over the weekend by which he claimed his membership have been the victims of “corruption” following a 3-0 Ligue 1 loss to Auxerre.
Longoria criticised referee Jeremy Stinat after his determination to point out defender Derek Cornelius a second yellow card in the course of the match.
“That is corruption. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it,” he mentioned. “You’ll be able to write it down: ‘Pablo Longoria says it’s corruption.’ All the pieces has been organised. It’s deliberate, it’s rigged.”
The French league’s disciplinary fee mentioned in an announcement that his ban consists of “all official features” corresponding to sitting on the bench and gaining access to the dressing room and tunnel.
Former Marseille participant Fabrizio Ravanelli, now appearing because the membership’s adviser, was additionally left fuming by the Auxerre defeat and accused match referee Jérémy Stinat of “not understanding what he was doing.”
The previous Italy and Juventus striker acquired a three-match ban, with each suspensions efficient from subsequent Tuesday.
Stinat mentioned he acquired loss of life threats after the sport and France’s referee’s union SAFE had launched an announcement on Sunday saying it will take authorized motion. French Soccer Federation president Philippe Diallo additionally criticised Longoria for his feedback.
With 10 rounds left of the French league, Longoria’s ban successfully carries over into subsequent season. On Monday, he considerably backtracked from his preliminary outburst.
“Everybody defined to me clearly the which means of the phrase corruption in French, as a result of in Spanish, it has a broader which means,” he mentioned. “However I’ve by no means in my life thought of one thing like cash exchanges or monetary transactions, I’d by no means enable myself that. I wish to say that there is no such thing as a corruption in French soccer.”
Longoria did, although, say that wished to see officiating enhance in Ligue 1.
“Even when nothing justifies [the comments], it’s important to perceive the way you get to this anger,” he added. “My first accountability is to defend my membership. There have been a whole lot of refereeing selections this season the place I take into account that Marseille have been deprived.”
Marseille are second in Ligue 1 after 23 video games however are 13 factors behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Roberto De Zerbi’s aspect are subsequent in motion on Sunday after they host Nantes.
Contact the author of this story Andrew Warshaw at moc.l1740657874labto1740657874ofdlr1740657874owedi1740657874sni@w1740657874ahsra1740657874w.wer1740657874dna1740657874
