Nantes protests against the arbitration after the defeat, Marseille tempers.
Jocelyn Gourvennec, the coach of FC Nantes, and his president Waldermar Kita share a feeling of frustration after their team’s defeat against Olympique de Marseille (2-0) in Ligue 1 last Sunday. They believe that the refereeing decisions disadvantaged the Canaries at the Vélodrome.
Gourvennec notably contested two penalties not awarded to his team: “We were refused two obvious penalties, one on Moses Simon in the first period who was stepped on and especially the quadruple hand in the second period. Things have to be said. It is incomprehensible that the VAR does not call Mr. Letexier, because Pape Gueye is not in a natural position,” he declared in the post-match conference.
” It’s scandalous “
The Nantes coach also deplored the lack of consistency and intervention of the VAR in contentious situations. “I played here and I know that on small disputes, we were happy. There, it’s difficult to explain. The trouble arises from many situations that give rise to debate, on contentious images. One time they will see, one time no, one time they think there is a hand, one time no. It creates frustration. I barely spoke to the referee from afar and he gave me a yellow. It’s scandalous. If they can’t understand that there can be a little irritation… They’re doing this to give themselves pseudo-authority, it’s not good. We had plenty of matches with incomprehensible decisions, I have to talk about it,” judged the Breton technician.
Gasset reframes Gourvennec
However, Gourvennec’s criticism was not to the taste of OM coach Jean-Louis Gasset, who reacted during his own press conference. “Arbitration? I’m not talking about it… I also saw some very dangerous tackles from behind from them, especially on Aubameyang. At the CAN, it was red. Of course Jocelyn must have regrets given her team’s match. It doesn’t surprise me that they took seven points from the last three away games. He can be bitter but not on the refereeing in my opinion,” retorted the Ciel et Blanc manager.
