Referee Who Kicked Player Reportedly Named Ligue 1 Ref Of The Year

Football fans love nothing more than complaining about the officials but in the case of Tony Chapron it was more than justified. Now the infamous French ref is reportedly set to be awarded Referee of the Season in Ligue 1.

Tony Chapron made himself famous as a referee this season not for the usual reason.

Sure Michael Oliver might be well remembered long after this season has finished because of his bin heart and Gigi Buffon's strong disagreement with him but Chapron took things to a different level when he tripped Nantes player Diego Carlos and then sent him off.

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Referee Tony Chapron kicks out at Diego Carlos and then sends him off in a moment of madness in Ligue 1... 😱 pic.twitter.com/F1Ou6wt8QN

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2018

Of all the mad things that have happened in football it is difficult to remember one quite so crazy that you had to watch it several times to believe what you were seeing.

The incident left the 45 year old with a six month ban from the game, although half of the ban was suspended.

However despite all that the Parisien tonight reports that Chapron was voted, by his peers, as the top official in France. However the union is set to decide against giving him the award, and for good reason too.

Some half-time hilarity: French football referees have voted Tony Chapron, the official who purposefully tripped over Nantes defender Diego Carlos in a fit of rage, Ligue 1 Referee of the Year, to show solidarity to the currently suspended official.

— Get French Football (@GFFN) May 3, 2018

LOL -- Tony Chapron (remember him?) has reportedly been voted Ligue referee of the year! https://t.co/j3kxbRtF4e

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) May 3, 2018

According to Le Parisien, suspended official Tony Chapron has been voted referee of the season by his peers for the upcoming #TropheesUNFP. The organiser's of the awards are pushing for the referees union to block the outcome of the vote to avoid any potential embarrassment.

— Rich Allen (@rich_allen85) May 3, 2018

The 15 year veteran of refereeing has never been suspended before and the suspension essentially ended his career as a ref as he had already confirmed that he was due to retire at the end of the season.

Whilst he'd never quite kicked out a player, and sent that player off, before he did have previous with making the game about himself. He once refused to give Zlatan Ibrahimovic the match ball after the Swede had scored a hat-trick, Mike Dean would be proud.

Show of solidarity or not, imagine thinking Chapron was referee of the season.

Sacre bleu!