Tense end to the match this afternoon at Bollaert-Delelis. At game time, the referee of the match interrupts the game for a sole by Pereira Da Costa on Djibril Sidibé. What was initially just a yellow card will turn red after consultation with the VAR. The same VAR which will recall Mr. Ben El Hadj for a contact from Sarr on Aboukhlal in the Lens area. Later, Vincent Lannoy (staff) will be excluded, and Jhoanner Chavez will go out with an injury.
Without excusing the result (0-1), Florian Sotoca spoke about the influence of the referee on the end of the game: “We had a very good first 60 minutes. Start of the second year, it's the same. We really had control over this team. We dominated, we pushed. They had transitions, but we managed them quite well. So, the red (61st) completely changed the appearance of the match. It makes you laugh because, of course, the frozen image is potentially dangerous. But then, when you have the field view, plus the referee who says that to Dav' (Pereira Da Costa), that he's not there to hurt and that he's trying to remove his foot… Plus he sees it. It's difficult to judge an action only on a still image. I think the referee makes the right decision at the start, because he sees the action, he is not very far away. I find that after the penalty, I think there is nothing to say. So the VAR did its job. But on the red card, I think that the VAR was wrong simply because on a still image, obviously it is difficult. But afterward, it is above all the feeling on the ground that is important. And the feeling on the pitch, the referee made his decision and I think he made the right decision. »
And upon arrival, the game shifts into a tension that did not exist at kickoff. The end of the match is choppy. “There was no need to get excited. The match was going very well. There wasn't much protest. But it's true that from this red, the two teams get angry. The public was with us until the end. Everyone gets angry. And you have a tense end to the match. And I find that a shame. Because in the first hour of play, as I told you, there wasn't much happening in terms of refereeing. »
