Technical Director of French Refereeing Responds to Leonardo’s Criticisms of Le Classique Head Official

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo was not pleased with how the final minutes of the club’s fixture against Olympique de Marseille unfolded. More so, he was certainly not satisfied with the head referee from the contest, Jerome Brisard.

Leonardo believed that the “match was out of control” as Brisard handed out 14 yellow cards and five red cards. More so, Leonardo did not like the fact that Brisard was selected for this particular fixture due to his supposed inexperience in reffing such tense-filled rivalry duels like Le Classique.

Ligue de Football Professionnel’s Director of Technical Arbitration Pascal Garibian is not buying the talking points made by Leonardo following the contest. In an interview with AFP (via RMC Sport), Garibian responded to Leonardo’s claims that Brisard did not have the experience to ref such a fixture.

“I would like to point out that he is an experienced referee, this is his fifth season in Ligue 1, he is international, perfectly managed the last Coupe de la Ligue final and he has just been appointed to the first category of the UEFA, the antechamber of the elite group,” Garibian said. “He is an internationally recognized referee and for us, he has all the legitimacy to referee our biggest matches.”

Garibian also backed Brisard for his decision to hand out a multitude of cards during the contest.

“When we analyze the cards distributed, all are deserved,” Garibian said. “From the start of the match, Jérôme took out the first yellow cards to limit the excess commitment. From the ninth minute, something quite rare, he called the two captains to face their responsibilities in relation to the intensity and aggressiveness, and unfortunately he was not heard. He tried to do prevention throughout the game. Warnings, they are disciplinary sanctions which are intended to be preventive.”

PSG sure hopes that it will not have any referee controversies anytime soon.

Want more PSG? Visit the PSG Talk Podcast Network page and subscribe to PSG TalkingThe 1970, and 24th & Parc.

Tags Leonardo
Follow Us