It is a support which will weigh with all its weight in the fight for the presidency of the League of Paris Ile-de-France whose elections are scheduled for December 19.
Stéphanie Frappart, 36-year-old international referee named best in the world of her corporation in 2019, is committed alongside Thierry Mercier.
Beaten four years ago, the former boss of the District of Val-de-Marne is back in the fight to take the place of Jamel Sandjak.
The one who polished up her weapons (as a player - at the post of n ° 10 - then as a referee) in the Val-d'Oise and led last Saturday the Norman derby of Ligue 2 Le Havre - Caen (1-2) explains to us his motivations.
Why are you getting involved alongside Thierry Mercier, candidate for the presidency of the Ligue de Paris-Ile-de-France?
Thierry presented me with his global project and as, at the base, I am passionate about football, I took it to heart to be able to help the development of Ile-de-France football.
Obviously, the arbitration component appealed to me.
He wants to put in the means and his plan includes a strong technical direction of refereeing.
Clubs must be supported in finding referees and training them while enhancing their role.
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Recently, the referees suffered serious violence on the Ile-de-France area and in particular a young woman in your department of Val-d'Oise ...
Yes, it is on my territory, and this aggression received a lot of media coverage, especially via social networks.
We want to work with the clubs, and Unaf (National Union of French Referees) is already doing a lot of work to get things done.
Yes, we must eradicate this violence.
Have you been confronted with this type of violence in your career?
No, that never happened to me when I was just starting out.
But what this young woman experienced dismayed me.
Violence against a man or a woman, that is not one of the values that I defend.
This case proves that no one is immune.
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Your candidate failed four years ago against Jamel Sandjak who is seeking a third term.
Why could he win this time?
We have built a team around diversity, solidarity and trust.
The project is unifying, citizen and responsible.
It can speak to clubs and to all of Ile-de-France football.
Transparency is also a strong axis of Thierry's project.
He is committed to moving the lines.
In a personal capacity, can this political fight announce others, on the side of the FFF for example where you already officiate as a volunteer for the training of young referees?
I am very down to earth and I am on the present.
I find it difficult to plan on high.
Today, my priority is the Ligue de Paris.
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In Herblay-sur-Seine, football referee Stéphanie Frappart "has not forgotten where she comes from".
You recently offered 2000 € of equipment to referees of FC Parisis, your training club.
Why?
I started football at AS Herblay at 10 years old, then played and started refereeing at Pierrelaye and when the two clubs merged, I remained faithful.
I signed my first license in 1993. I have always had the impression of being involved here, FC Parisis is my family.
It seemed natural to me to give back what I was given at the start of my career and come back to help them during this first confinement because the clubs live in complicated situations.
Stéphanie Frappart against Ajaccien Johan Cavalli / Vincent Michel / Icon Sport
How do you cope with the closed doors imposed by the health crisis?
Like the players, it's special.
For me, football is the atmosphere, popular fervor and I am in favor of the return of gauges in the stadiums.
Afterwards, the context imposes much more concentration on the referees, we hear everything, the shocks and the mistakes are more exaggerated.
The VAR which was supposed to help the referees is still not unanimous ...
We are all in favor of the means and tools that can put us in the best possible position.
VAR is a lifeline, but we remain in control of the final decision.
Don't you feel weakened?
From the outside, it can be felt that way, but I assure you that we are always at the heart of the decisions.
It doesn't change our arbitration.