2023-08-21 19:47:21
The magic of the cut, even with defeat. Sunday, ASSS Caen, which plays in the fourth departmental division of Calvados, was the first team to play a Coupe de France match with a team composed entirely of deaf or hard of hearing players. And almost made history even more by coming close to qualifying for the next round.
The Caen club received on its lawn Fontenay-le-Pesnel, which evolves two divisions above, for the first round of the Coupe de France. This competition, won by Toulouse FC last season, is open to all clubs affiliated to it up to the last amateur level.
A “comeback” in the middle of a match
On Sunday, it was therefore eleven deaf or hard of hearing players who faced a team without disabilities on the Caen lawn. No rules of the game have been changed or adapted for the occasion. Only modification: the referees of the meeting, when whistling, raised a chasuble so that the players of the ASSS Caen could have a visual cue and understand that the game had to be stopped.
On the ground, the Caennais almost managed the feat of eliminating Fontenay-le-Pesnel. After being down two goals to nil, they managed to turn the game around and led 3-2. They finally conceded the equalizer, before losing during the penalty shootout (3-3, then 5-3 on pens).
“I always thought it was impossible. Today, the dream has come true,” commented ASSS Caen coach Éric Jean. with France 3 after the meeting. Proof that for the Caen coach and players, given the symbol, defeat does not matter.
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