Jérémy Stinat, a Ligue 1 referee, has initiated legal proceedings after the tyres of his two vehicles were damaged at his residence. This incident occurred prior to Olympique de Marseille’s game against Auxerre, a match notable for a contentious red card issued to OM defender Derek Cornelius. The referee has officially lodged a complaint, prompting an investigation by the authorities. Currently, the judicial system has not confirmed any direct connection between this incident and Stinat’s profession as a referee.
Benoît Fontaine, the public prosecutor in Dax, confirmed to AFP that an investigation was launched on Sunday into the “damage to a vehicle,” corroborating an earlier report from L’Équipe. The magistrate stated, “Even if proven, this damage currently shows no established link to Mr. Stinat’s professional activities.”
Phillipe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, disclosed that all tyres on Stinat’s vehicles were punctured before the Ligue 1 clash between Marseille and Auxerre. In this game, Marseille surprisingly defeated Roberto De Zerbi’s team. Diallo mentioned in a L’Équipe interview on Sunday that “His wife noticed it as she was about to drive onto the motorway.”
Stinat faced strong criticism for sending off Marseille’s Cornelius during the match. Marseille’s president, Pablo Longoria, was visibly angry and recorded expressing his frustration. Institutional advisor Fabrizio Ravanelli and head coach De Zerbi also voiced their disapproval.