Lyon rail at refereeing after 1-2 Monaco loss as Tolisso criticises Letexier’s tone | OneFootball

Lyon railed at the refereeing after a 1-2 defeat to Monaco on Sunday, questioning VAR’s silence and the manner of referee François Letexier’s exchanges. According to L'Équipe, Lyon’s player, coach and sporting director all hinted at a pattern against them.

The winner arrived from a 68th-minute penalty after the Lyon captain fouled Maghnes Akliouche. Before that, Corentin Tolisso pointed to several shirt pulls by Zakaria on Endrick and argued VAR should at least have prompted an on-field review.

Tolisso maintained there was a foul in the build-up and declined to list every incident. He referenced earlier mistakes, including at Rennes, and said that if OL also have to fight the officials, competing would become very difficult.

He added that Letexier’s response when challenged felt very arrogant, surreal and unhealthy, and that he disliked it. Tolisso expected the penalty decision to generate plenty of debate.

Sporting director Matthieu Louis-Jean said he spoke with Thiago after full-time and did not think he was happy with the officiating. He complained of key calls going against OL in a tight league and said the referee again affected the result.

He cited a previous Letexier decision at Saint-Étienne to overturn a red card for Tolisso, insisted they do not want to be paranoid, and noted OL’s 10 European matches this season passed without refereeing issues. Monaco coach Sébastien Pocognoli, dismissed for protesting a Nicolas Tagliafico foul on Lamine Camara, said the referee let play flow and that Monaco do not talk about officiating before or after matches.

Source: L'Équipe