Lyon describe refereeing against PSG as catastrophic

Referee decisions have become another subject in the French Ligue 1, as Olympique Lyonnais has described the officiating against Paris Saint-Germain as catastrophic.

This is coming barely 24 hours after criticism of officials earlier during RC Lens’ 4-1 win over AS Monaco.

Lyon’s 3-2 defeat to PSG came with another that occurred right until the end of the clash.

According to reports, Lyon had four big decisions, all of which went against them. The first was the Khvicha Kvaratskhelia goal, where OL argued that Vitinha had fouled Tanner Tessmann in the build-up. 

Les Gones’ second complaint was about a penalty not being awarded to them when Lee Kang-in tussled with Nicolas Tagliafico inside the PSG box. There was another unawarded penalty when the ball glanced off Ilia Zabarnyi’s hand. 

There was the height of the controversy when Tagliafico was harshly sent off in second-half injury-time and  PSG scored a late winner a few minutes later. 

In his reaction, former Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette on social media said it wasn’t an easy 11 against 12. 

Lyon assistant manager Jorge Maciel, who pointed out PSG being European champions, doesn’t need 16 players on the pitch.

“ I’m not even counting the VAR,” he told Ligue 1 Plus. 

In an official statement, technical director Matthieu Louis-Jean said that there was “frustration” at what he perceived to be “big refereeing errors” and an “incoherence” in decisions being taken.

“Mr Bastien’s refereeing was catastrophic. I didn’t see him after the match, but in any case, he won’t say anything. He never says anything,” he added.

The criticism in another Ligue 1 gameweek, in which refereeing is spotlighted, is becoming more than the action on the pitch. 

It’s now left to see how the French league management will react and make amendments, as the spotlight will be more on refereeing in the league that’s gradually growing to be amongst the top four across Europe.