Marseille President Longoria Regrets Corruption Comments After Auxerre Loss

Pablo Longoria, president of Olympique de Marseille, expressed regret over his comments labeling Ligue 1 as 'corrupt' following his team's 3-0 loss to Auxerre. His outburst came after controversial refereeing decisions, particularly the sending off of defender Derek Cornelius, which he felt unfairly impacted the game. Longoria clarified that his use of the term 'corruption' was inappropriate, emphasizing he did not mean to imply financial misconduct but rather frustration with officiating standards. He acknowledged the need for improvements in refereeing to avoid such emotional reactions in the future. The French Football Federation and refereeing union condemned his remarks, stating they were defamatory and unacceptable. Longoria's comments have sparked discussions about officiating integrity in French football and the repercussions of public criticisms from club officials.