Lens defender Alaeddine Yahia has been called before the FFF after suggesting an official faked injury.
Lens defender in hot water over comments
Lens defender Alaeddine Yahia has been called before the French Football Federation after suggesting an assistant referee faked injury.
Match official Emmanuel Boisdenghien was struck by an object thrown from the crowd as nine-man Lens suffered a miserable 4-1 home defeat at the hands of local rivals Lille on 11th September.
Boisdenghien was given five days off work following the incident, which caused the match to be delayed by several minutes and occurred shortly after Issam Jemaa saw red early in the second half.
"The assistant referee needs to stop dramatising," Yahia told local newspaper La Voix du Nord several days later.
Cinema
"I saw exactly what happened. He was only hit by a ball of paper, which had been used for the 'tifo' (a display by the fans) before the match, with three chips inside.
"He should go and see Steven Spielberg because he'd be good in the cinema. But he has to stop saying that he can't sleep at night anymore and that he sees Stade Bollaert in his sleep.
"I don't condone the act because it was cowardly and it was done when his back was turned, but for me, all of that was just cinema!"
Yahi will appear before the FFF's ethics committee on 18th October.
