While he is now accustomed to officiating at the highest level, referee François Letexier balances his refereeing career with another profession, finding common ground between the two.
At 35 years old, François Letexier has become a leading figure in French refereeing, entrusted with officiating prestigious matches at both the national and European levels. Indeed, after being appointed by UEFA to referee the Euro 2024 final last July, the Breton found himself on the pitch at the Orange Vélodrome for the Classique match won by PSG against OM on October 27. However, French referees are not professionals and maintain another job alongside their refereeing duties. In an interview with the media outlet Brut, François Letexier opened up about his life as a bailiff, a profession that was long referred to as a huissier de justice. He confessed to having discovered this profession "in law school," explaining that he was drawn to "a hands-on, very practical profession." The native of Bédée, who recently officiated a match for his club during the Refereeing Days, insisted that "these are two professions that complement each other very well" in daily life. When asked about the possible commonalities between being a football referee and a bailiff, François Letexier affirmed that there is "no routine that develops." He explained, "Football generates some pretty crazy behaviors in terms of emotions, and in my work as a bailiff, often, when I am involved in collection actions, my presence is not always welcome; the situations also generate reactions to which I must adapt." He also sees in balancing the two activities the opportunity to "think about something else and relive a slightly more normal life because football is quite extraordinary." While he doesn't always garner unanimous support, as the criticism following his performance in the last OM-PSG clash demonstrated, François Letexier has no intention of stopping his juggling act between the two professions.
Source: Footboom