Lille President Expresses "Gap in Trust" with French Refereeing

09 January 2026at22:20

Olivier Létang, President of Lille OSC and head of the French Ligue 1 Clubs Committee, expressed a "gap in trust" with French refereeing during a Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) board meeting held on December 4. Létang's comments followed the red card shown to player Alexsandro in Lille's 0-2 loss to Rennes, a decision he had previously described as "a disgrace and a scandal."

During the meeting, Létang stated: "We can no longer accept a system where incomprehensible decisions are made every weekend across several stadiums (...) How can there be errors in situations that are completely clear? This affects the competition, the final standings, and therefore has strong impacts." He also questioned the effectiveness of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology and its annual cost of €25 million, suggesting the "use of artificial intelligence."

Létang added: "Despite repeated demands for several years, things do not change or change very little, and we have more and more clearly wrong decisions. Unfortunately, there is a growing gap in trust." He received support from Waldemar Kita, President of Nantes.

Létang also called for continued financial support for refereeing from the French Football Federation (FFF), which FFF President Philippe Diallo does not anticipate, citing a deficit of €8.7 million. Létang is scheduled to appear before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday regarding his recent statements.

Q&A

What specific incident sparked Olivier Létang's 'gap in trust' comments regarding French refereeing?

Lille President Olivier Létang's strong remarks followed the red card given to Alexsandro in Lille's 0-2 defeat to Rennes, which he deemed "a disgrace," fueling his broader concerns about officiating consistency.

How might Olivier Létang's criticism impact the relationship between Ligue 1 clubs and the French Football Federation?

Létang's demand for FFF financial support for refereeing clashes with President Philippe Diallo's refusal, citing an €8.7 million deficit. This disagreement, alongside Létang's impending disciplinary committee appearance, signals increased tension.