<p>The French referees union said its members would exercise their right to withdraw if they or their families are put at risk after a match official faced an "outpouring of hate" following comments by Olympique de Marseille President Pablo Longoria.</p><p>Local media reported that Longoria had objected to the appointment of referee Jeremy Stinat for their game against Auxerre on Saturday, which they lost 3-0.</p><p>Longoria said the defeat was down to "true corruption" and expressed his anger over the red card shown to defender Derek Cornelius.</p><p>The French football league's governing body (LFP) handed Longoria a 15-match ban for his comments on Wednesday.</p> .Referees sickened by abuse following Bellingham red card, says Spain football federation.<p>Local media reported that the tyres on two of Stinat's family's cars were found slashed at his home before the match and that he had filed a legal complaint over the damage.</p><p>A delegation from the referees union (SAFE) met the French minister for sport Marie Barsacq on Thursday to voice their concerns regarding the safety of referees.</p><p>"The nature of the remarks ... called into question the integrity of the referee and, more generally, that of the refereeing body," SAFE said.</p><p>"In the event of a new breach of their private sphere, putting them or their families at risk, (the referees) would exercise their right to withdraw."</p><p>The union added in a statement that it had instructed its legal advisers to join Stinat in filing a civil action with an investigating judge of the Paris court of first instance.</p>
<p>The French referees union said its members would exercise their right to withdraw if they or their families are put at risk after a match official faced an "outpouring of hate" following comments by Olympique de Marseille President Pablo Longoria.</p><p>Local media reported that Longoria had objected to the appointment of referee Jeremy Stinat for their game against Auxerre on Saturday, which they lost 3-0.</p><p>Longoria said the defeat was down to "true corruption" and expressed his anger over the red card shown to defender Derek Cornelius.</p><p>The French football league's governing body (LFP) handed Longoria a 15-match ban for his comments on Wednesday.</p> .Referees sickened by abuse following Bellingham red card, says Spain football federation.<p>Local media reported that the tyres on two of Stinat's family's cars were found slashed at his home before the match and that he had filed a legal complaint over the damage.</p><p>A delegation from the referees union (SAFE) met the French minister for sport Marie Barsacq on Thursday to voice their concerns regarding the safety of referees.</p><p>"The nature of the remarks ... called into question the integrity of the referee and, more generally, that of the refereeing body," SAFE said.</p><p>"In the event of a new breach of their private sphere, putting them or their families at risk, (the referees) would exercise their right to withdraw."</p><p>The union added in a statement that it had instructed its legal advisers to join Stinat in filing a civil action with an investigating judge of the Paris court of first instance.</p>