Fallen in Regional 1, Tours FC was to host FC Lorient this Saturday in the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. But the match was canceled, the FFF citing security reasons. On RMC, Touraine coach Bryan Bergougnoux attacked his management.
Bryan Bergougnoux admits, it will take him “a lot of time to come down”. Because the anger of the Touraine coach is “immense”. This Saturday, his team was happy to welcome FC Lorient in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France. A match initially scheduled for 6 p.m. between the Regional 1 team and the current leader of Ligue 2. Stuck in immense financial difficulties for years, to the point of finding themselves in the sixth division through administrative relegations, Tours FC wanted take advantage of this poster to restore its image. Missed.
In a press release published at 1 p.m., the FFF announced the cancellation of the match, citing security issues. According to La Nouvelle République, a relative of the owner of the Touraine club tried to revise the security system downwards in recent days – to save money – except that the new organization was rejected by the prefecture of Indre-et -Loire. And then it’s impossible to go back to the initial plan. A scenario which implies direct responsibility for Tours FC. And which plunges Bryan Bergougnoux and his players into terrible distress.
“We’ve been training with deflated balls for weeks…”
“It's a lot of frustration. I was lucky enough to experience this kind of atmosphere, I think a lot about my players who make enormous sacrifices. They sometimes tried to put pressure on management in relation to all that. I was able to dissuade them because it would have given a bad image. Going on strike in football is always frowned upon. They didn't say anything, they continued to work. 'a match that would have been unique for them in their lives. I'm very angry,” he reacted on RMC. Having stayed at Tours FC for six years during his playing career (2012-2018), Bergougnoux returned to the club this summer, for his second experience as coach. At the same time, Tours changed ownership, Jean-Marc Ettori handing over to Belgian investor Ivan Desmet.
If everything goes well this season on the field side, since the team is first in R1, the situation is very different behind the scenes. “We were happy to have eight balls today donated by the FFF. We have been training with deflated balls for weeks… We will have to have those responsible give explanations. There is a lot of frustration. player was in tears. I am very, very angry When you want to lead a club, you have to do things fully. The situation is difficult, but when you make commitments you can't tinker all the time. , we have it done for five months to give the best image I also think of the volunteers, the supporters…”, developed Bergougnoux, convinced that this 32nd final against Lorient will be lost on the green carpet.
“There is a good chance,” he admitted on RMC, very bitter. “We must not deceive ourselves. When we are not able to host such an event, we are not part of the Coupe de France project. It is deplorable. We must ask the question to the leaders. We are is focused on the athlete. It is the work of a staff which is destroyed, the work of players with an exceptional mentality. The question must be asked of those concerned. My anger is immense, but I am not responsible for the financial side. “
