It’s a trip the Canaries will remember for a long time. Because of an extremely controversial refereeing by François Letexier, who forgot a penalty for Nantes before granting a non-existent one to Nice in additional time in the second half, the Yellow House conceded a draw, unfair
. Last to appear in the mixed zone before climbing into the bus, the captain of the Yellows, Alban Lafont, did not mince his words with regard to the arbitration performance, this Sunday afternoon. Expelled for having challenged the decisions of the Breton, the ex-Toulouse delivered his truth on this meeting. And he does not go there by four paths. Interview.
“We have the right to make mistakes, we just have to accept our mistakes”
What and your feeling at the end of this meeting?
I will first talk about the match itself, what we produced. I think it was the right game plan and the win was deserved. Afterwards, there is this fact of the game at the end of the match where you should not be afraid of words: we are clearly being robbed in view of the hand [non sifflée, ndlr] in the first half. I think the referee is not fair. We have the right to be wrong and to make mistakes, we just have to accept them, look in the mirror and he didn’t manage to do it.
Can you explain to us why the referee gives you a first yellow card?
I just come to see him to chat and as he saw everyone arrive, he puts me yellow right away. It begins badly. After that, it can only make things worse. For me it is an admission of weakness on his part. I have the right to ask for explanations, to discuss, especially since I am captain. Immediately, taking out the cards when we just want to talk, it’s a shame because it puts a barrier between the referees and us. Then nothing more can be said.
Do you think the second yellow is also unjustified?
No, the second yellow is deserved because I come to dispute, but after all that happened, we are humans. We must not forget that we work every day to be efficient, to win matches. Losing points like that while we are fighting for our survival is inevitably frustrating because we work to make matches like that, win them and put FC Nantes as high as possible. When it’s not the opposing team that puts you in trouble and it’s the referee, it’s sure to be frustrating.
What annoyed you the most tonight?
What particularly annoys me is that at half-time I talk a little with the linesman. He tells me that if there is a hand for us in defense, they will make sure not to whistle it, that there is a bit of justice. It annoyed me even more because they immediately whistle the penalty for them when there is no hand, it’s totally wrong. There is not a big fault from Dante but he leans with both hands on JC [Castelletto, ndlr]it’s whistling!
How do you intend to digest this end of the match?
The most important thing is the European Cup match. Afterwards, we will have to project ourselves on the reception of Clermont, it will be an even more crucial match because it’s a club that we have to leave behind in the standings.