“I do not agree with this decision”: Julien Stéphan, the coach of Rennes, beaten in Monaco (1-0) on Sunday, did not understand why the match referee, Stéphanie Frappart, had not not awarded a penalty for his team even though the video assistance had called it. “From the moment the VAR calls the referee, there is a big doubt about the initial decision,” said Julien Stéphan in a post-match press conference, about the decision to Mme Frappart not to change her mind, even though she had not whistled for a foul by Youssouf Fofana on Désiré Doué in the Monegasque area (78th).
“She looked again, ruled that there was no penalty. I do not agree with this decision. But I have no choice but to see,” he added.
On the other hand, for his counterpart Adi Hütter, “all the decisions (of the international referee, editor’s note), the two exclusions and on this action, were the right ones”. For him, Monaco “did the job, like Brest and Lille (winners, editor’s note)”, currently 2nd and 4th in L1, whom his team will meet during the next two days. “We have everything in our hands,” continued Hütter. These matches will be important. As Lille plays in the European Cup, the opposition between Northerners and Monegasques has been postponed to April 24. “We will have three matches in six days,” noted Hütter. It will be one of the most important weeks of the season. But we will be ready for that.”
Stephan, “frustrated and disappointed”, felt that Rennes had offered “many good things in content”, “but missed the essential: effectiveness”. “But there are still 18 points at stake and a lot will happen between now and the end of the season. We have to go and bring about success,” he concluded, optimistically.