Referee Knocked Down During Brawl in Friendly Match

In a shocking incident in France, a referee was knocked to the ground during a friendly match between FC Metz and Fortuna Sittard, resulting in a concussion.

The match, held in France, took a dramatic turn when a scuffle broke out on the pitch, leaving the referee injured and lying on the grass. Mathilde Demoncay, 26, was officiating the game between the Ligue 2 side FC Metz and the Dutch top-flight club Fortuna Sittard.

Brawl Erupts After a Simple Foul

The chaos began in the 39th minute when Demoncay awarded a free kick to Fortuna Sittard after a Metz player tugged at an opponent's shirt. This decision sparked a confrontation among several players, leading to a mass brawl on the field.

As Demoncay attempted to intervene and separate the players, she fell to the ground, reportedly hitting her head in the process.

"Oh No, She Took a Hit"

A player from Sittard quickly recognized the seriousness of the situation and called for medical assistance for the downed referee. Commentators from Moselle TV, who were livestreaming the match, expressed their concern. "Oh no, they need to stop this," one commentator said. "Oh dear, she took a hit."

Medical staff, along with assistants and security personnel, rushed onto the field to provide aid to the 26-year-old. The livestream captured Demoncay sitting on the pitch, appearing somewhat dazed as she received care.

Demoncay Recovers but Exits the Field

Despite the incident, Demoncay managed to get back on her feet, but after a brief discussion, she left the field, with one of her assistant referees taking over the duties. A spectator stepped in to assist along the sidelines.

Initial reports indicate that she suffered a mild concussion, as reported by the Daily Mail. The altercation resulted in two yellow cards being issued to the players involved.

In a particularly ironic twist, the entire incident unfolded right in front of an advertising board that read "Respect the Referee." The match, which saw Metz leading 1-0 at the time of the altercation, ultimately concluded with a 3-1 victory for the French hosts.