The images of the clash between Thierry Laurey and Julien Lopez after his red card in the 90th minute on Monday at Sochaux (0-0) circulated a lot and made people talk.
Mad with rage, the Paris FC coach had pushed away his player with both hands, who had seized a bottle, his eyes black, before throwing it to the ground… “Some want to make a deal of it, but there's no business, it's a storm in a teacup.
Professional polemicists (sic) who only have that to do will argue while those who are in football will perhaps understand how it can happen.
Since Sochaux, I have slept very well, I have no worries, ”laurey quipped this Thursday at a press conference.
He also returned to the tweet (
quickly removed Monday
evening) from Maxime Lopez, Julien's younger brother: “In 2022, is it normal, a coach who pushes his player like that?
“Had posted the former OM midfielder.
“Let him take care of Sassuolo, I take care of Paris FC”, reframes Laurey.
The Parisian coach then explained why he had behaved like this: “It was a moment of common nervousness.
If I pushed Julien, it's not because I wanted to fight him.
I wanted him out of the field as soon as possible so as not to aggravate his case with a salty report from the referee.
Again, there is nothing to argue about.
When a player is in this state, he is able to do and say anything.
That's why I wanted him out of the referee's field of vision.
At this point in the match, there was tension.
Taking a goal at 9 in the last five minutes would have been negligent… In the end, the referee's report is correct.
»
“Julien apologized and will be sanctioned by the leaders”
Julien Lopez, at Paris FC since 2017 and highly appreciated internally, has indeed received a single suspension match.
He trained normally this week even if he should receive a sanction.
“We took the time to talk, explains Laurey.
Everything is dissipated.
Julien also spoke to his teammates.
He apologized.
He will be sanctioned by the leaders.
For me, it's settled, I moved on.
A moment of bewilderment can happen.
Me, it happened to me when I was a player in Montpellier.
I had been miserably expelled and left my team 9. So I can understand some things.
I hope this mistake will serve as a lesson to everyone.
It must not happen again.
A red card like that, I can't accept it.
»
In addition to Julien Lopez, Cyril Mandouki, also expelled from Sochaux, received a two-game suspension.
Paris FC also lost Lebogang Phiri, out after ten minutes of play. The South African international, one of the rookies of the off-season, should be out for six weeks.
