“
The referee killed the match
” lambasted Reims coach Oscar Garcia after his team's defeat against Monaco (3-0).
At the same time, Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo reacted to his very quick expulsion against Angers (0-1 defeat): "
An arbitrary choice which shocks me and which condemns my team to start the match with a big disadvantage
".
Statements like these come weekend after weekend on Ligue 1 grounds, where referees have come under fire from critics since the start of the season.
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
French officials have distributed no less than 34 red cards in 8 days.
This is almost nine times higher than the Premier League (England, 4 red cards), more than twice higher than in Serie A (Italy, 15 red cards) and almost three times equal to the Bundesliga (Germany, 12 red cards).
A figure to put into perspective since all these championships have played at least one day less, but the average is still much higher, also compared to last season.
The 3rd day was also a record with 11 exclusions.
Read also "Wesh, touch me not brother": Kimpembe's words to the PSG-Brest referee are controversial
The only championship to box in the same category as Ligue 1 is… Ligue 2, which even surpasses its big sister with 45 red cards distributed.
Last week, FC Metz had taken three in the same match during an incredible meeting ending in a stinging defeat (3-6) against Guingamp.
Protect the physical integrity of players
What is the reason for this rain of reds?
Are French referees particularly strict?
The others too lax?
Ligue 1 players too rough?
The Technical Direction of Arbitration had in any case instilled a new policy before the start of the season, emphasizing the protection of players.
“
We cannot be satisfied that a match ends with two or more injuries on each side
,” said Stéphane Lannoy, deputy technical director, during an interview with AFP at the end of August.
Read alsoLigue 1: record of red cards on the third day
Thus, and by way of example, players committing soles are more severely sanctioned, as shown by the expulsions of Vanderson (Monaco) against Lens or Ugochukwu (Rennes) against Ajaccio.
Disputes are also less and less excused.
Be that as it may, the debate is not likely to die out any time soon as the players in the championship seem to be upset against decisions deemed questionable.
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