Marseillels President Pablo Longoria gave 15 games for “corruption”

Pablo Longoria, the president of the French football giants Marseille, was banned on Wednesday for 15 games because he claimed that his club was victims of “corruption”.

Fabrizio Ravanelli, the Italian former Marseille striker, who is now working in an advisory role in the club, was suspended against Auxerre as a “scandalous” for three games last weekend.

“The Commission viewed offensive comments and behaviors that are a violation of the ethics charter and that harm the image of football.” Said Sebastien Deneux, the head of the France Professional Football League (LFP) disciplinary unit.

Longoria is “from all official functions and access to the changing rooms of the players and officials, the pitch and all corridors who lead to these areas,” said the LFP in a statement.

Longoria apologized for his choice of the word “corruption” and admitted that it was “not appropriate”.

Marseille, second in Ligue 1, was already 1-0 to Auxerre on Saturday when they had a criminal complaint from referee Jeremy Stinat shortly before half -time.

The visitors then had the Canadian defender Derek Cornelius sent for a second yellow card shortly after the hour before giving two more goals to score a disappointing defeat.