At the end of each day of Ligue 1, the FFF Refereeing Department analyzes certain situations requiring the use of VAR. This time she looked at two decisions taken by Gaël Angoula during AJ Auxerre – LOSC.
As part of the seventeenth day of Ligue 1 McDonald's, LOSC found itself facing AJ Auxerre at the heart of the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps. This opposition was marked by Lille's inefficiency, Auxerre's solidity, but also by the boos from the local public regarding the decisions taken by Gaël Angoula. The latter whistled a penalty for Lille upon returning from the locker room. Hakon Haraldsson made a short jump to avoid Jubal in the Auxerre area, then collapsed to the ground. The referee then indicated the penalty spot (48′) before, a few minutes later following the intervention of the VAR, retraced his steps (52′). Immediately, on a new action in the area, the Icelander was held behind his back and missed an attempt at close range (54'). Gaël Angoula did not flinch before the VAR called on him again, but for the opposite situation. This time, there was indeed a foul and Paul Joly was sent off for clear annihilation of a goal action (56').
Accustomed to analyzing and explaining situations requiring the use of video assistance, the Refereeing Department of the French Football Federation looked into these two situations previously mentioned:
- Hakon Haraldsson (48′): On this first situation, the referee “consider live that a clear contact occurred between the two players, this contact leading to the fall of the attacker. He then decides to award a penalty.begins the FFF press release. The contact between the defender and the attacker is nevertheless
“stealthy, very light, and is not enough to attribute a punishable nature to the intervention of the defender.
The attacker, in the air by his jump before any intervention by the defender, clearly no longer seems able to control the ball”it is specified. - Hakon Haraldsson (54′): On this second situation, the Lille striker “is held by the upper body by Auxerre defender no. 26, as he prepares to take the ball with his left foot in front of the opponent's goal, with a clear opportunity to score a goal”judges the VAR, who calls on the refereeing body after verification.
“The Auxerre defender’s jersey pulling on the Lille striker is proven” et
“therefore annihilates the obvious scoring opportunity for the Lille team”continues the Arbitration Directorate. Law 12 is then applied: “the player must be sent off and a penalty expected”explains the FFF in its conclusion.
These facts of play ultimately did not have the slightest impact since Jonathan David saw his attempt rejected by Théo De Percin, Auxerre goalkeeper, to the applause of the public.
