Referee Mathilde Demoncay suffered a concussion during a chaotic pre-season friendly between FC Metz and Fortuna Sittard on Saturday, forcing her to leave the pitch at half-time. The Dutch side fell to a 3-1 defeat in what local media described as anything but a typical warm-up match, with tensions boiling over just before the interval.
The incident unfolded when Fortuna striker Lequincio Zeefuik had his shirt pulled by a Metz defender and reacted with visible frustration. Multiple players from both sides quickly became involved in the ensuing scuffle. As Demoncay attempted to restore order and separate the combatants, she was struck during the altercation and fell heavily to the ground. The Frenchwoman could not continue and did not return after half-time, requiring medical attention for the head injury sustained in the melee.
Referee Replaced by Assistant After Injury
Fortuna's only goal came through Justin Hübner, who provided a brief moment of attacking promise for the Eredivisie side in an otherwise frustrating afternoon. One of Demoncay's assistant referees took over officiating duties for the second half, ensuring the match could continue. In a fortunate turn of events, an amateur referee happened to be in attendance as a spectator and stepped in as a replacement assistant after being consulted by match officials.
The defeat marked Fortuna's fourth pre-season outing on French soil as they prepare for the new season. The encounter highlighted the intensity that can build during warm-up fixtures, even when competitive stakes are minimal. Next Friday, Fortuna will conclude their pre-season campaign at home against APOEL Nicosia before tackling their Eredivisie opener—a challenging away trip to defending champions PSV Eindhoven two weeks later.
