Changing room chat: French in stew over ref appointment

FRENCH media are up in arms after learning that the referee appointed to take charge of their international friendly with neighbours Belgium tomorrow evening was born in ... Belgium!

Cesar Muniz Fernandez is a Spanish national and a well-known figure in La Liga where he has become one of the country’s top officials, but he was born in the Brussels district of Anderlecht.

The 41-year-old, pictured above right, has been on the Fifa list since 2007, but it is understood that this is the first time the Oviedo-based official has been given a match involving Belgium. France’s L’Equipe website referred to the appointment as a “peculiarity” and said his nickname was El Engominado - “the one with the slicked-back hair”.

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