Retired French Referee Reveals Strange Reason for Awarding Contentious Goals

• Ex-Ligue 1 Tony Chapron referee admits to awarding contentious goals based on the quality of move which led to the goal
• He cited an example of an overhead kick by then-Marseille man Lucas Ocampos in which the Argentine’s high foot nearly hit the opposing defender’s head
• Chapron is currently working as a football pundit following his retirement from active refereeing in 2018

Former French Ligue 1 referee Tony Chapron has conceded he used to award contentious goals during his days as a referee due to the 'beauty' of the goal.

He explained that just like any other football fan, he is enraptured by the build-up and the aesthetic qualities of a goal and thus will not mind bending the rules to let the goal stand.

He made this assertion on the back of a debate on Dimitri Payet’s stunning goal for Marseille against PAOK in the Europa Conference League.

“Yes, because we are humans and we love football. When you see a great goal and you say to yourself, “there might be a little foul”, the move is so nice that you allow it. What will it change to the story?” He told Canal+ as quoted by Get French Football News.

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“What I want to see when I go to the stadium is extraordinary goals. I am the biggest football fan. Don’t forget that referees are above all football fans. And sometimes, yes, you’re enthralled by what a player does.”

When did Tony Chapron quit refereeing?

The 49-year-old former referee turned pundit took up refereeing in 1996 and became a full-time referee two years later.

Chapron retired in 2018 after being handed a suspension due to kicking out Nantes’ Diego Carlos after a collision and sending the Brazilian off during a game against PSG.

What led to Chapron's decision to quit?

On 14 January 2018, during a Ligue 1 match between FC Nantes and PSG, Chapron attempted to kick Nantes player, Diego Carlos, following an inadvertent collision.

Chapron then sent him off for a second yellow card. The next day, Chapron was suspended for six months by the French Football Federation which led to his retirement.

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Top Premier League referee to retire from officiating after the season

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that English referee Mike Dean has reportedly announced that he will be retiring from football at the end of the 2021/22 season, according to The Telegraph.

The 53-year-old has been a Premier League official since 2000 and has been involved in over 600 games.

Dean has been part of a lot of controversy over the years for his decision-making, especially in some big games.