HAVING written a column last week about the dangers of over-familiarity between referees and players, it was instructive to see that in France it has reached an entirely different level.
A video clip from the ProD2 match between Nevers and Beziers showed the referee, Laurent Millotte, blow for full-time to give the home side, Nevers, a knife-edge victory.
As he did so, the pintsized referee was grabbed from behind by the overjoyed Nevers winger, Josaia Raisuque, and found himself fork-lifted into the air above the big Fijian’s head.
Although Raisuque put him down gently,...