“We’re going to kill you”: a referee attacked and threatened with death during an international pétanque tournament in Marseille

The events took place this Sunday, June 30. http://imagebroker.com/#/search/5331856

This Sunday, June 30, a referee was attacked and threatened with death by players during the biggest pétanque tournament in the world in Marseille. The latter contested a point. 

This Sunday, June 30, during the World Cup La Marseillaise à pétanque, a referee was attacked. In response, all his colleagues withdrew on Monday July 1.  

It all started on a point measure. "The referee didn't give him the point. But with complete transparency! The referee doesn't know anyone, she didn't know who the players were", testifies Patrick Grignon, main referee of the competition and elected in charge of the national commission of ;arbitration, at the microphone of France 3. Not satisfied with this decision, the players attacked the referee.

"I measured several times with the pull tab and found a difference. So I designated the point, the referee recalls. They didn't accept because they had lost, so they were a little violent towards me. They were making gestures… A woman put the phone on me in his face, she was making a video. She said: "There, look! So ! It’s her! There's his face! It's her!""

"We're not here to get attacked"

Fortunately, a police officer was on the opposing team. "If he hadn' hadn't been there, she would have been cut in two. He was able to film everything, prevented it from degenerating into violence, adds Patrick Grignon, still in the columns of our colleagues.

The young woman, who says she is "very, very shocked", would have received death threats: "We're going to kill you", but also racist and sexist remarks. "They even went looking for people to come in even greater numbers. This has gone very far. This is unacceptable, iThere is no question of attacking a referee. I won't stand for it. We are not here to be attacked, threatened with death or anything, adds Patrick Grignon.

While the referee, who is on his third assault, intends to file a complaint, the tournament organization announced that it would take all the necessary measures to repair the damage.