Mickaël Landreau steps down from FFF refereeing department role | OneFootball

Mickaël Landreau has ended his duties as sporting consultant and spokesperson at the Direction de l’arbitrage, the Fédération française de football announced.

The 46-year-old, capped 11 times by France and a consultant for Canal +, had joined the refereeing department in July 2024. The decision was acknowledged by the federation, which thanked him for his work and reiterated its openness to external expertise.

Landreau described his spell alongside Ligue 1 officials as enriching, highlighting their demands, professionalism and the challenges of the role. He said the immersion helped him better understand how referees approach incidents, which can differ from the viewpoints of players and clubs.

He stated that he approved some refereeing decisions and questioned others when necessary, accepting that such positions drew criticism and insisting he responded calmly. He aimed to act as a bridge by explaining to officials the realities and constraints faced by players and coaches, noting that while his title was spokesperson, his focus was engaging the game’s stakeholders, which at times led to misunderstanding.

According to him, dialogue with clubs has strengthened and should continue over time. He believes French refereeing, like elsewhere, can face criticism but remains of high quality, and he thanked referees and the Direction de l’arbitrage for their welcome and trust.

Source: L'Équipe