Mathilde Demoncay Suffers Concussion Attempting to Stop Player Brawl During Pre-Season Match
A female assistant referee, Mathilde Demoncay, collapsed and suffered a concussion during the 40th minute of a pre-season friendly match between French club Metz and Dutch side Fortuna Sittard. The incident happened when two opposing players, following a shirt-pulling scuffle, engaged in a physical confrontation, causing teammates from both sides to rush onto the field in an attempt to defuse the situation. However, Demoncay, one of the officials, was caught in the middle and fell heavily to the ground.
Apart from her immediate fall, she clung to her arm as security personnel and medical staff tended to her. Although she briefly resumed her duties after play had restarted, she could not continue beyond halftime due to the concussion sustained. Medical attention was immediately provided by the sideline team, who replaced both Demoncay and another official. The match eventually resumed with Metz securing a 3-1 victory.
Incident Details
The incident unfolded at the half-time mark after an explosive exchange between players. Afterward, security measures were heightened during training sessions in anticipation of further disturbances among the teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was involved?
The referee affected was Mathilde Demoncay, a 26-year-old assistant official from France who was caught between the players as they engaged in conflict during the pre-season friendly match involving Metz and Fortuna Sittard.
How did this happen exactly?
Briefly, during a scuffle initiated by two opposing players over a shirt-pulling incident, teammates from both sides leapt into action to separate them. In the chaos, Mathilde Demoncay fell to the turf and received her concussion while trying to maintain control of the situation.