French football official Abdelatif Kherradji has been handed a six-month suspended prison sentence by the Nimes criminal court for domestic violence against his ex-partner.
The sentence delivered on Wednesday came after a public prosecutor had requested an 18-month suspended term during trial proceedings on August 7. The court also ordered the Ligue 1 referee to refrain from contacting the victim for three years and to complete a domestic violence awareness course.
Kherradji and his legal counsel successfully requested that the conviction not be recorded on his official criminal record, avoiding an automatic legal bar to continuing his career at the highest level of French refereeing.
Court hearing and assault allegations
The case stems from an incident on the evening of March 13, when Kherradji was accused of grabbing his former partner by the neck, assaulting her, and preventing her from leaving the couple's home.
Appearing in court, Kherradji denied the allegation and claimed that his ex-partner had struck him during an argument. Magistrates rejected his version of events and scheduled a follow-up hearing for March 19, 2027, to set the financial damages and compensation due to the victim.
Following the ruling, Olivier Morice, a lawyer representing the victim, told French sports daily L'Equipe that the court outcome marked a victory after a courageous legal effort. Morice stated that he could not imagine football governing authorities allowing a referee convicted of domestic violence to remain on Ligue 1 pitches.
Potential governing body sanctions
Kherradji has served as a top-flight referee in Ligue 1 for two seasons. Ligue 1 is the top division of professional football in France.
Although Kherradji avoided a criminal record entry, he could still face disciplinary measures from French football's governing body, the French Football Federation (FFF). The official had previously met with federation leaders to address the allegations during the court proceedings, and federation officials retain the authority to review the conviction and impose independent administrative or sporting sanctions.
