By Victor Kanayo
A French footballer simply identified as ‘fanatic’ has been banned from playing for 30 years.
The ban was necessitated after the footballer was found culpable of punching a referee in an amateur match, according to AFP.
The report said he punched the referee so hard that the official was signed off work for two days.
The incident, was said to have happened during a local game at Loiret football district in central France.
Announcing the penalty, President of football body in the district, Benoit Laine said, “The penalty is appropriate.
“These fanatics must not be able to set foot on a football pitch again. They have no place there.”
The 25-year-old player, who was not named by officials, was angry at being sent off while featuring for Entente Sportive Gatinaise on January 8, 2023.
The team was also kicked out of the tournament for the next two seasons.
Few days ago, World football governing body, FIFA, slammed a four-game ban on four Uruguay players over their acts of misconduct during their final 2022 FIFA World Cup group encounter against Ghana in Qatar.
