{
  "id": 18422359,
  "title": "Lille president slapped with four-month ban after explosive referee row following PSG draw",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/lille-president-slapped-with-four-month-ban-after-explosive-referee",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T01:41:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/11/06/lille-president-slapped-with-four-month-ban-after-explosive-referee-row-following-psg-draw/242139"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lille president Olivier Letang has been handed a four-month ban for his outspoken criticism of officials following his club's 2-2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, according to a Lille spokesperson. The suspension was imposed by the French football federation (FFF) following an appeal against a previous fine of 20,000 euros. Letang had previously been fined 10,000 euros by UEFA in 2025 after criticizing an official during Lille's Europa League match against PAOK Salonika. In August, Letang expressed his dissatisfaction with the amount of stoppage time added to the match and protested against referee Eric Wattellier's appointment. He described the situation as a \"scandal\" and sent emails to French refereeing chief Antony Gautier and officials at both the FFF and the French league, stating that Lille could no longer accept being refereed by Wattellier. Letang has vowed to pursue all available appeals, including a potential case before the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).",
  "summary": "LILLE, Nov 6 — Lille president Olivier Letang has been suspended for four months for criticising officials f...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Lille president suspended four months over ref rant after PSG draw",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/lille-president-suspended-four-months-over-ref-rant-after-psg-draw",
        "published": "2026-11-06T02:13:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}