Will Still reveals a French referee made an ‘inappropriate’ comment about his potential move to Sunderland claiming ‘it will be better in England’ after Reims’ 2-0 defeat by Lens

• Will Still has admitted his shock over a comment a French referee made to him
• The Stade de Reims boss has been linked with a move to Sunderland this week 
• ‘There’s no bigger waste of time!’ What is the point of the Club World Cup? It’s All Kicking Off

Stade de Reims manager Will Still has admitted his shock over a comment that French football referee Francois Letexier had allegedly made to him following his side’s 2-0 defeat by Lens on Saturday. 

It came after reports emerged that the coach was on Sunderland’s shortlist of managers to take over from Tony Mowbray who was sacked by the club after their 1-1 draw against Millwall at the start of December. 

Despite the claims, Still has meanwhile reaffirmed his commitment to his current club, who have lost four out of their last five matches. 

After Saturday’s defeat, the 31-year-old reportedly approached the referee to voice his concerns over how the game was officiated. During their conversation, Letexier had allegedly stated: ‘Don’t worry, it [the refereeing] will be better in England.’ 

While it seems Sunderland have now identified Michael Beale as their primary target to replace Mowbray, Still, who had reportedly returned to England last week for an unrelated visit, claimed that the referee’s comments were ‘inappropriate’. 

Stade de Reims manager Will Still has hit out at a referee who allegedly made an ‘inappropriate’ comment to him after his side’s 2-0 defeat by Lens 

Still had reportedly gone to express his disappointment at the officiating in the match

But referee Francois Letexier had allegedly said ‘It [refereeing] will be better in England’ amid talk that Still had been shortlisted to take over at Sunderland

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‘I found it funny, or not funny at all,’ Still said in his post-match interview. ‘He said something like, “It will be better in England.”

‘I didn’t find it very appropriate, but it’s not a story, it’s not interesting.’

Despite that, the referee has subsequently claimed that Still may have misinterpreted him.  

When contacted by L’Equipe, Letexier said on the claims: ‘At the end of the match, I simply said, “Maybe best of luck in England”.

‘It was meant to be light-hearted, with a smile and without any ill intention. He misinterpreted me.’

Still has impressed since he joined the Ligue 1 outfit in October, 2022, with Reims currently eighth in the Ligue 1 standings. 

While they have dropped down from fifth in the table in recent weeks, they are still in contention for a spot in Europe next season, with the Red and Whites just four points adrift of Lille in fourth place. 

Still, who started his managerial career back in 2017 at the age of 24, has now overseen 47 games at the club and notably guided them to a 17-match unbeaten streak last season. 

Reims have now dropped to eighth in the French top-flight, having lost four of their last five games in Ligue 1

Still had been linked with the vacant manager’s position at Sunderland but reaffirmed his commitment to Stade de Reims

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While he exclusively told Mail Sport in January that it would be his dream to move back to England one day, Still reaffirmed his commitment to Reims, despite admitting he was flattered by the interest that other clubs had shown in him.   

‘It definitely won’t be my last match, unless I’m fired tomorrow,’ he said on the defeat by Lens. 

‘I don’t think that’s planned. I am the manager of Reims and I hope that I will be the Reims manager for many more months or years to come.’

Reims are back in action on Wednesday as they travel to take on Le Havre in the first division, before they play fourth tier side Dinan Lehon in the French Cup.  

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