Sébastien Desiage has been refereeing in Ligue 1 since 2012. -

NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP

French football is in mourning.

The Union of Elite Football Referees (SAFE) announced on Thursday the death of Sébastien Desiage at the age of 46.

The latter, member of the Board of Directors of SAFE since 2013 and president of the union from 2017 to 2018, officiated at the professional level since 2010.

“To his wife, Julie, his three children, his family and loved ones, the SAFE and the referees express our deep emotion, and offer their most sincere condolences and their deep support.

The Arbitral Family is present at your side ”, assured the union on its official website.

It is with deep sadness that we learn of the death of Sébastien DESIAGE this Thursday, September 10, 2020. Ligue 1 referee and former president of SAFE.

Sébastien was devoted to his passion: arbitration.

pic.twitter.com/6VJWtgB0xJ

- SAFE (@ArbitresSAFE) September 10, 2020

A long fight against the disease

Affected by a disease whose nature we do not know, the native of Saint-Etienne had refereed his last Ligue 1 match on March 13, 2018 during a PSG-Angers at the Parc des Princes, before finally tidying up her whistle to focus on her healing.

“Sébastien Desiage will have succeeded in his bet to return in June 2019, even leading the Toulon SC - Ajaccio GFC meeting, on August 16, 2019 on behalf of the 3rd day of National, as part of the resumption protocol.

Before being overtaken by the disease ”, continues SAFE in its press release.

“We knew that Sébastien Desiage was going through a health test for several months but his disappearance is a shock, announces the FFF on its website.

The referees and the Federation are very sad.

He was a man respected and appreciated for his qualities as a referee and a man.

He was passionate about and a lover of football, the game. The Federation offers its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

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