Olivier Létang has accepted a €20,000 fine from the LFP disciplinary commission, but the Lille president has opened another front in his dispute with French refereeing authorities. In a new message sent to Antony Gautier, head of the Direction of Arbitration, and French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo, Létang said he would no longer attend meetings concerning officiating.
The sanction was imposed this week after emails and messages Létang sent in the aftermath of Lille’s 2-2 Ligue 1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain on 28 August. He described the punishment as severe, having presented documents and detailed explanations on the disputed incidents when he appeared before the disciplinary panel.
Quick facts
- Olivier Létang has been fined €20,000 by the LFP disciplinary commission.
- The case followed his communications after Lille’s 2-2 draw with PSG on 28 August.
- Lille asked for its 2-0 win over Troyes to be recorded as a 3-0 result.
- The club argued that a VAR procedural error created a serious precedent.
- Létang says he will no longer take part in refereeing meetings.
The Lille president’s latest complaint also concerns the fourth Ligue 1 matchday and the meeting with Troyes. The Direction of Arbitration publicly stated on Monday that Lille’s disallowed goal had correctly been ruled out following VAR intervention, while acknowledging that the video-assistance protocol had been applied incorrectly.
Lille had sought an official explanation beyond that public statement. In its correspondence, the club called the episode an unprecedented case and warned that failures to follow regulations could have serious consequences for future results and the sport itself.
The northern club also requested that the score against Troyes be changed from 2-0 to 3-0. Létang noted that his previous message, sent on 14 September after the Troyes controversy, had received no response from the refereeing department.
A breakdown in dialogue
“The Direction of Arbitration’s communication on these events has been totally inappropriate,” Létang wrote. He contrasted the French response with events in England, where a VAR controversy in the Manchester derby was handled quickly.
After Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United, decided by an Erling Haaland goal, the VAR officials involved were barred from the following league round and from upcoming United matches. The Premier League’s refereeing body also apologised after accepting an error of judgement.
Létang believes Ligue 1 club leaders are not given the same level of dialogue or transparency. He said that the time, effort and proposals he has devoted to improving French football had not been heard.
“There is no real adversarial debate, and the exchanges lack transparency and effectiveness,” he said. “It leaves me personally exposed and gives me the feeling that we are wasting our time. That is regrettable, because there is so much to do.”
With regret, Létang said he would no longer attend any meeting focused on refereeing or involving members of the Direction of Arbitration. The decision carries extra weight because the Lille president also serves as chairman of the Ligue 1 college.
