"Reserve your insults for the referee, not for your connection."
The advertising campaign of Devolo, a company which "allows access to the multiple possibilities of the digital world thanks to a powerful home network", as indicated on its website, and which invites to "boost your wifi" thanks to its power line, going badly.
Very badly even this Sunday as well for the union of referees (SAFE) as for Roxana Maracineanu, the delegate minister in charge of sports.
On Twitter, it was SAFE who said: “What a shame this #Devolo communication.
It advocates hatred and disrespect for the function of arbitrator with a public service mission.
To be removed urgently!
"
For its part, the National Union of Football Referees (UNAF) has also reacted to denounce a message "scandalous and outrageous, inciting verbal violence which we know generates physical violence".
# advertisement - When the #devolo company does referee bashing cheaply ... a little ethics wouldn't hurt them !!
properly scandalous 😡 @ ArbitresSAFE @UnafArbitres @AFCAMVajda @IFSOfficials @devoloUK @Sports_gouv @lequipe @LeParisienSport @RoxaMaracineanu @BFMTV pic.twitter.com/yAKvO6RiV4
- REFEREE 🇫🇷⚽️ (@Arbitrez You) May 9, 2021
This Sunday, it is therefore Roxana Maracineanu who in turn spoke, evoking a “pathetic and irrelevant” advertisement.
"The supporters will not be mistaken, assures the Minister Delegate.
I ask Devolo France to modify its campaign.
In passing, she recalls that the referees provide a public service mission.
Pathetic and irrelevant.
The supporters will not be mistaken.
I ask #Devolo France to modify its campaign.
Respect and gratitude to the referees who, I remind you, ensure a public service mission https://t.co/eGJ8rhcMmY
- Roxana Maracineanu (@RoxaMaracineanu) May 9, 2021
On Facebook, under the ad, many comments go in the same direction.
Guillaume writes: “You should be ashamed of such publicity!
As a referee, I can only be outraged by such communication, which will not solve the problem of verbal violence that we encounter every weekend ”.
This Sunday, at 6.30 p.m., the ad had been the subject of more than 200 comments.
The previous one of April 29 - “wifi is like light, it's better when you have it on all floors” - only has… two.
