The Superior Appeal Board did not change anything. Fred Dembi (24) will not participate in the 16th round of the Coupe de France on Sunday against the pros of Angers (L1). A week after the disciplinary committee's decision to suspend the 24-year-old FC Rouen (L1) attacking midfielder for a match due to the accumulation of warnings, the appeal committee confirmed the suspension on Friday afternoon by calling the player at 3.30 p.m. The latter had moved this Friday morning (11 am) accompanied by its president Fabrice Tardy at the headquarters of the FFF to plead his case with the members of the commission.
Fred Dembi had collected a yellow card after removing his jersey during the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France against Metz (L 1) to exhibit that of his friend and Guingamp player Nathaël Julan, who died in a road accident on January 3 .
“I had put on Nathaël's jersey to accompany me. I don't score very often and, as if by chance, after 6 minutes, I open the score ... At that time, the emotion overwhelms me and instinctively, I take off the jersey, said Fred Dembi in our columns last Saturday. Honestly, I expected a leniency from the commission. Especially since I am an amateur player and it is not every day that you can participate in a 16th final! They take it away from me because I paid tribute to a friend. I regret this lack of humanism. I find it very cruel! "
"This commission has not shown any psychology"
The superior appeal commission therefore did not hear the Rouen environment very marked this Friday afternoon by the confirmation of its suspension. Even the president of the FFF Noël Le Graët had "deeply regretted the suspension of Fred Dembi" in our columns. It was therefore not enough ...
"We are very disappointed for the player, this commission has not shown any psychology," said Arnaud Marguerite, the sports director of FC Rouen. This commission should be made up of former players rather than people in offices who have never played. We are still talking about a dramatic story where a young pro of 20 years died and his boyfriend is suspended because he paid tribute to him… Fred did not take off his jersey to boast! It's truly sad ! "