France: Antony Gautier succeeds Pascal Garibian as the FFF's director of refereeing

Referee Antony Gautier has been appointed head of the FFF's technical refereeing department by its executive committee, announced the French Football Federation on 06/01/2023.

The 45-year-old Frenchman, who "started refereeing in 1993 before officiating in Ligue 1 from 2007, has 263 French championship matches and 58 international matches to his name". Antony Gautier, former Deputy Mayor of Lille (FRA), in charge of sports, and current Mayor of Bailleul (since July 2020), succeeds Pascal Garibian, the body's director of refereeing since July 2013, whose contract was terminated "amicably" with the Federation.

"Stéphane Lannoy (53) is appointed technical director in charge of professional refereeing," said the FFF. However, according to the French sports daily L'Equipe, the referee has not yet accepted the position. Stéphanie Frappart (39), the first woman to officiate at a World Cup in 2022, has been appointed technical director in charge of women's refereeing, while Alain Sars (61) retains his position as technical director in charge of amateur refereeing.

"Antony Gautier will be able…