Longoria regrets corruption claims after Marseille defeat
- Pablo Longoria's remarks followed a 3-0 defeat where Marseille felt unfairly treated by the referee.
- He later expressed regret for his choice of words and emphasized the need for improved officiating.
- Longoria now faces potential punishment for his outburst regarding referee corruption.
In France, following a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Auxerre, Marseille president Pablo Longoria faced backlash for claiming corruption influenced the match. Longoria's comments came after the dismissal of a penalty claim and a controversial red card issued to player Derek Cornelius by referee Jeremy Stinat. Longoria’s outburst included accusations of ‘real corruption’, which drew severe criticism from multiple quarters, including French Football Federation chief Philippe Diallo, who labeled the accusations as defamatory. Moreover, Stinat himself reported being targeted by incidents of vandalism and home intrusion, amplifying the tensions surrounding refereeing standards in Ligue 1. While Longoria later expressed regret for his words, he maintained that issues within officiating need to be addressed to enhance fairness in French football and stated he felt obliged to defend his club’s interests. The reactions from the football community highlighted deep dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions that have reportedly felt biased against Marseille this season.