Female referee Mathilde Demoncay suffered a concussion after being knocked to the ground while attempting to break up a confrontation during a friendly match between French club Metz and Dutch side Fortuna Sittard.
As reported by BBC Sport on Sunday, the incident occurred in the 40th minute when tensions boiled over following a shirt-pulling incident involving players from both teams.
Several players rushed toward each other as the disagreement escalated into a melee.
Demoncay stepped in to try to restore order but was caught in the middle of the confrontation and fell heavily to the ground.
She remained on the pitch for several minutes, holding her arm, as assistant referees, security personnel and medical staff rushed over to assess her condition and calm the situation.
After receiving treatment, the 26-year-old returned to the field and continued in the role of assistant referee when play restarted.
However, she was unable to continue after halftime and was replaced for the remainder of the match.
The match eventually resumed, with Metz securing a 3-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard.
The incident highlighted the risks officials face while attempting to control heated moments during football matches, with referees often required to intervene in situations involving physical confrontations between players.
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Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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