It is a sad news item that will still find a particular echo with round ball enthusiasts. Figure of arbitration in France, essential from 1971 to 1991 with two major events on its credit-the final of the 1988 Euro between the Netherlands and the USSR) and the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup between Italy and Argentina-Michel Vautrot was attacked on Wednesday.
Now 79 years old, the man in black was destroyed in the street while he was out of a restaurant in Saint-Vit, in Doubs. An individual then pretended to shake his hand before seizing his gold chain. But also and above all from the pendant in the shape of a whistle which he wore around his neck.
“” He gave me a kind of judo taking, he fired on the channel, it cracked and he was runningrelates to the Republican East the one who still holds the Record of finals of the Coupe de France to date for an official (five). It is traumatic, necessarily, but I also experience a feeling of guilt. How did I let myself have like that? »»
Michel Vautrot's lucky charm
Guilt, and a big void since the jewel in question had been offered to him by his mother when he was only 17 years old. “” It was my talisman, my lucky charm. It had been 62 years since I removed it every night before going to bed. The chain, I don't care, but this whistle … It was my mother who offered it to me when I was a teenager and I started to arbitrate. She had said to me, “I offer it to you to bring you luck”. »»
Still in shock, Michel Vautrot is all the more upset since his thief almost was apprehended. This thanks to two motorists. “” They continued the guy by car, they traveled and found him near the station. The gendarmes were warned, but when they were going to arrest him, he managed to free himself and escape … »»
Michel Vautrot (in the center) with his pendant around the neck during the 1979 French Cup final between Nantes and Auxerre.
And to conclude, bitter: ” I don't have an illusion, for my medallion, it's screwed up. There is more serious in life, of course, but I feel orphan. I went all over the world with this whistle, in corners reputed to be dangerous, and it had to happen to me in Saint-Vit … »»
