PSG: “We must protect the players”… The Donnarumma-Singo affair highlights Letexier’s “lack of consistency”

The spectacular injury of Gianluigi Donnarumma, victim on Wednesday in Monaco of “facial trauma with multiple wounds”, which required him to have ten staples placed on his right cheek, has not finished causing everyone to react. French football. After receiving Wilfried Singo’s right foot in the face very early on (17th), the Italian goalkeeper had to leave his partners in the 22nd minute of this Ligue 1 shock won by PSG (2-4).

The Ivorian defender from AS Monaco quickly published an Instagram story after the match to return to this controversial situation: “I would like to apologize to Gianluigi Donnarumma. My action was obviously not voluntary, but I was able to see later that he had a significant injury to his face. I wish you a good recovery “.

“The image is scary”

A mystery immediately surrounded this fact of the game: why was Wilfried Singo, already sanctioned with a yellow card (13th), not sent off by François Letexier, via a second warning or even a direct red? If Luis Enrique was very measured in the evening’s refereeing controversy, his players had a much clearer opinion.

“I don’t know if the referee was in the wrong place, but he had to be called by the VAR,” regretted Parisian captain Marquinhos. we must protect the players. The image is scary, and in a situation like this, not putting red is strong. »

“Tonight, Donnarumma was not protected”

Same story with Gonçalo Ramos: “I think everyone saw his face. I don’t know how it’s not a red card. The referees came to us at the start of the season to tell us that they were going to protect us, and tonight, Donnarumma was not protected.” A decision all the more surprising on the part of François Letexier as he had acted in a completely opposite manner, in a comparable situation, during the OM-PSG Classic (0-3) on October 27.

An uncontrolled sole from Amine Harit on the chest of Marquinhos had earned the Marseille playmaker a direct expulsion, from the 20th minute of play, and despite much less serious physical consequences for the Brazilian from PSG, who had been able to play the the entire meeting.

At the time, the referee justified himself as follows: “From the start, I have the feeling that this gesture endangers the physical integrity of his opponent. Then, I take the time to think, and very quickly Marquinhos takes off his t-shirt and I see the mark of the crampons at the level of his sternum. These two elements decide me to exclude Mr. Harit.”

What about the referees responsible for VAR?

Even if it means risking ruining the suspense of such a shock, which has long been criticized against him from the very evening, contrary to his decision on Wednesday in Monaco. Wilfried Singo already had a yellow card and Donnarumma’s bloodied face was much more impressive than the trace of crampons on Marquinhos’ chest in Marseille. “If technical considerations must lead me to make a strong and courageous decision in the 20th minute of a match, I must do it,” added François Letexier in Marseille, who this time did not wish to speak. with the broadcaster after ASM-PSG.

These two comparable situations with opposite consequences, from the same referee and less than two months apart, leave former international referee Saïd Ennjimi wary. For The Teamhe regrets “a lack of consistency”: “For me, it’s worth direct red. Singo, like Harit, probably didn’t want to hurt but his foot ended up where it shouldn’t have been. Why don’t the VAR referees, who intervened against Harit, come and help Mr. Letexier there? “.

Our file on Ligue 1

Even Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier wanted to react on his social networks by wondering about the image of the Singo-Donnarumma clash: “No red? “. This Thursday morning, while the Italian international “will undergo medical examinations” during the day and he “will have to remain inactive for several days”, the question remains unanswered.