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PARIS. — The referee who kicked a player during a French Ligue 1 game and then sent him off has been suspended “until further notice”, the French Football Federation (FFF) said yesterday.

Tony Chapron kicked Diego Carlos of Nantes towards the end of Sunday’s game against Paris Saint-Germain after being knocked over when the pair collided in a bizarre incident.

Chapron then showed the player a second yellow card.

The FFF’s technical committee of referees said Chapron had been “withdrawn . . . until further notice” and would be called to appear before the French league’s disciplinary commission.

The sanction means he has been taken off refereeing duties for tomorrow’s Ligue 1 game between Angers and Troyes. The FFF statement added that 45-year-old Chapron had reviewed video footage of the incident and “noted that his fall had been caused accidentally.”

Footage of the incident quickly went viral across the world.

Chapron and Diego Carlos were racing to catch up with a breakaway by PSG’s Kylian Mbappe as the game, which the visitors won 1-0, moved into stoppage time at the Stade de la Beaujoire. The referee appeared to cut across the Brazilian defender, sending both to the floor. — AFP.