For its clash against Monaco (3rd), Sunday at 5:05 p.m., Stade Brestois (2nd) will be deprived of its centerpiece Pierre Lees-Melou. Controversially sent off in Lyon the previous weekend (3-4), the midfielder saw his red card, and therefore his suspension, confirmed by the disciplinary committee on Wednesday. “It’s a big disappointment,” commented coach Éric Roy at a press conference on Friday. (…) What is a bit of a shame is to have disciplinary committees which can view images, see that he has done nothing, but who still sanction him. »
The coach of the Finistère club also castigated “two-speed” French football which, according to him, does not use the means at its disposal (the VAR and the disciplinary committee) to correct possible errors. “Instead of repairing certain injustices, they only support or reinforce them. This is quite surprising and very disappointing. (…) What we thought would be progress for the referees, we realize that it changes nothing. And what's more, the third level, the disciplinary committee, doesn't change anything either. »
For this match in Lyon, refereeing boss Antony Gauthier recognized, on France Bleu Breizh Izel, two errors to the disadvantage of the Ty Zefs: a penalty should have been awarded to them in the 16th minute, and Lyon's first goal Alexandre Lacazette should not have been validated. On the other hand, he approved Mr. Vernice's decision to exclude Lees-Melou in the 86th, sanctioned with a second yellow during an altercation with Nicolás Tagliafico (also warned for the second time and therefore excluded) .
Brest had requested the removal of VAR
This is not the first time that Brest, despite this historic season, has criticized the refereeing. President Denis Le Saint even sent a letter to the Professional Football League to request the removal of VAR this winter. Éric Roy himself has repeatedly criticized refereeing decisions that he considers to be to the disadvantage of his team.
" We all make mistakes. First of all, I make mistakes. Players and referees make mistakes on the field. In a way, it's human," he said later, anxious to calm things down. "We are focused on our end of the season," he continued, while Brest, runner-up of the PSG with five days remaining, is nine points ahead of Nice, fifth with a game in hand. The Champions League is more than ever in the sights.