This is what we call a Pyrrhic victory. Olympique Lyonnais beat Strasbourg (2-1) on Sunday evening, at the end of the 9th day of Ligue 1, but Les Gones lost the man who is, if not their best player, at least their best attacker.
Malick Fofana collapsed, mown down by a tackle from behind by Ismaël Doukouré, before being evacuated to the hospital. Already an own-goal scorer in the first period, the unfortunate Strasbourg defender was excluded for this action by Mr. Wattelier, after intervention by the VAR.
Nothing to say? Not for Liam Rosenior, who judged that this fault did not deserve a red card. “ For me, it was an unlucky action. I don't want to see injured players on the pitch but the referee judged based on the injury and not on the action. It wasn't a dangerous tackle.” estimated the Strasbourg coach.
Doukouré, a tackle that hurts
Clearly, this analysis from the Racing coach, and this concept of a non-dangerous tackle which seriously injures a player, is enough to provoke a reaction. In Doukouré's defense, his tackle is more on the ball. And we can notice that it is Fofana who comes to put his leg in opposition, to protect the leather, which causes his injury.
But it is obvious that the Strasbourg defender commits very hard, and by throwing himself in this way, he controls his tackle less and exposes himself to this type of mistake. The image of Fofana's ankle, completely bent under the weight of Doukouré's body, did not really leave the referee any choice.
