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<H1>French parliament protects refs with new law</H1><DIV class=bylinebox style="MARGIN-TOP: 8px"><DIV class=bylinetext>Reuters
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PARIS -- The French parliament on Tuesday passed a law to give greater protection to referees in all sports from acts of violence.
Under the new law, causing injuries to a referee resulting in a work stoppage of over eight days will be punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of 75,000 euros.
Violence against referees has increased in France in recent months. A referee needed 10 stitches in his head and suffered a partial loss of his eyesight after being hit by stones during an amateur soccer game in southern France in May last year.
"This is an appropriate answer to the concerns expressed by French referees as well as by all sports federations," French Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour said of the new law.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
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PARIS -- The French parliament on Tuesday passed a law to give greater protection to referees in all sports from acts of violence.
Under the new law, causing injuries to a referee resulting in a work stoppage of over eight days will be punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of 75,000 euros.
Violence against referees has increased in France in recent months. A referee needed 10 stitches in his head and suffered a partial loss of his eyesight after being hit by stones during an amateur soccer game in southern France in May last year.
"This is an appropriate answer to the concerns expressed by French referees as well as by all sports federations," French Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour said of the new law.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>