A Ligue 1 referee for the past two years, Abdelatif Kherradji was sentenced this Wednesday morning to a six-month suspended prison term for domestic violence, with the conviction not being entered into his criminal record - a crucial detail for his future career, according to his legal counsel.
The Criminal Court of Nîmes has delivered its verdict: Abdelatif Kherradji (40) - a Ligue 1 referee for the past two years - was sentenced this Wednesday morning to a six-month suspended prison term following his trial on August 7 for domestic violence; the sentence includes a three-year ban on contacting the victim and a requirement to complete a domestic violence awareness program. However, this sentence will not be recorded on his criminal record. The public prosecutor had sought an eighteen-month suspended prison sentence. The referee's former partner accused him of grabbing her by the neck on the evening of March 13 and then assaulting her to prevent her from leaving their home. Two months later, Kherradji allegedly grabbed her by the shoulder before pinning her against a wall. He had firmly defended himself against these accusations. Testifying in criminal court, he maintained that she was the one who had struck him - punching and kicking him - and that he had merely acted in self-defense, never physically abusing her. Abdelatif Kherradji’s profession was a recurring theme throughout the hearing, and it remains a focal point following the verdict. "This is a victory following a courageous battle waged by the plaintiff," said Olivier Morice, one of the victim's lawyers, speaking by phone. "I cannot imagine for a moment that football authorities would allow a Ligue 1 referee to continue officiating after being convicted of domestic violence."
Abdelatif Kherradji had met with his superiors the week before his trial to explain his situation; they must now decide on potential disciplinary action. Eric Borghini, one of his lawyers, expressed optimism: "It’s a good decision for us," he explained. "The court delivered a fair verdict. It amounts to a symbolic sentence, with no provisional enforcement and no entry on his criminal record. The prosecutor had sought an eighteen-month suspended prison sentence with provisional enforcement, which was excessive given the facts of the case. For its part, the civil party had demanded a €10,000 interim payment and a court-ordered expert assessment to maximize the compensation," Borghini continued. "They were awarded none of that. Most importantly, when delivering the verdict, the presiding judge stated publicly in court that the ruling excluded any entry on the criminal record so that the judgment would have no professional repercussions for Mr. Kherradji. I immediately forwarded this decision to Mr. Kherradji’s superiors," Borghini concluded. "If Abdelatif faces no sanctions from the Federation, we will not appeal. We just hope to receive the written decision relatively quickly, as we only have ten days to decide." The case has been referred to the Criminal Court of Nîmes for the determination of damages on 19 March 2027.
Source: L'equipe