A new wave of solidarity in the world of football appeared this weekend in eastern France.
And it could, no doubt, snowball quickly.
To help the small clubs in difficulty - because of the health crisis - of their District, several referees have, in fact, refused to receive their compensation for the matches where they officiated.
Their slogan: “No spectators + no refreshment bar = no recipe.
Support clubs, let's help them our way.
"
Quickly, social networks seized on this initiative and shared, in particular, the expense report signed by a certain Maxime Walther, who on Saturday refereed the under-18 meeting (D 3) between the clubs of Schirrhein and Forstfeld / Eufried, and which counted precisely 64 kilometers from his home (Kutzenhausen).
[# District🇫🇷] A district referee refereed for free this weekend to support clubs in the face of the economic crisis linked to Covid-19.
"No spectators + No refreshment bar = No recipe"
RESPECT 🙌
(📸 https://t.co/TqrBrHISrb) pic.twitter.com/Tj19SRyb61
- Footballogue⭐️⭐️ (@Footballogue) October 26, 2020
"It's a nice surprise," says Pierre Dillinger, president of Schirrhein (Bas-Rhin), who had his hour of glory by leaving Clermont in the 32nd final of the Coupe de France in 2009, before falling against Toulouse.
It's crazy, even!
We obviously appreciate the referees who launched this initiative.
This referee did not warn us.
For us, this is a saving of 56 euros, on a budget of 1000 euros per month.
It's not nothing.
"
The refreshments of the stadiums in the Grand Est have been closed since this weekend, by order of the prefect, Ms. Chevalier.
Logically, their recipe is the only source of income when clubs do not charge entry.
In Schirrhein, only the meetings of the senior team 1, which plays in R1, are thus paying (6 euros).