Female Referee Injured While Breaking Up Brawl During Metz vs Fortuna Sittard Friendly

A female referee was briefly injured after intervening in a clash between players during a pre-season friendly match between French club Metz and Dutch side Fortuna Sittard.

According to media reports, the incident occurred in the 40th minute after one player pulled an opponent’s shirt, triggering a confrontation between members of both teams. What began as a verbal exchange quickly escalated into pushing and shoving, with several players joining the altercation.

Referee Mathilde Démonche, 26, rushed in to restore order and attempted to separate the players. However, amid the crowd and physical jostling, she lost her balance and fell to the ground, sustaining a minor injury.

Play was temporarily suspended while officials checked on the referee. After receiving initial medical treatment, she was able to get back on her feet and resumed officiating the match. Reports said her injuries were not serious.

Videos of the incident quickly circulated on social media, where many football fans praised the referee for her professionalism and courage. Sports commentators noted that while maintaining discipline on the pitch is a referee’s primary responsibility, ensuring officials’ safety during on-field confrontations is equally important.

Although the fixture was intended as a pre-season friendly to help both teams prepare for the new campaign, the altercation overshadowed the match. Organisers are reportedly reviewing the incident to identify measures that could help prevent similar situations in the future.