Marseille President Longoria Faces Backlash Over Corruption Allegations

After a 3-0 defeat to Auxerre, Marseille president Pablo Longoria expressed regret for claiming corruption in French football, particularly criticizing referee Jérémy Stinat's decisions. Following the match, Longoria labeled the officiating as 'scandalous' and suggested an organized plot against his team, which sparked outrage from the French Football Federation (FFF) and the referees' union, SAFE. Both organizations condemned his remarks as defamatory, with SAFE announcing plans for legal action against Longoria. Longoria later clarified that he did not intend to imply any financial corruption but wanted to highlight a lack of clarity in officiating. The situation has led to a rare alliance between the FFF and the referees' union to defend the integrity of officiating in French soccer. Marseille's loss has left them trailing significantly behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, intensifying the scrutiny on their performance and Longoria's comments.