The images of the clash between Thierry Laurey and Julien Lopez after his red card in the 90th minute on Monday at Sochaux (0-0) circulated a lot and made people talk. Mad with rage, the Paris FC coach had pushed away his player with both hands, who had seized a bottle, his eyes black, before throwing it to the ground… “Some want to make a deal of it, but there’s no business, it’s a storm in a teacup. Professional polemicists (sic) who only have that to do will argue while those who are in football will perhaps understand how it can happen. Since Sochaux, I have slept very well, I have no worries, ”laurey quipped this Thursday at a press conference.
He also returned to the tweet (quickly removed monday eveningr) by Maxime Lopez, Julien’s younger brother: “In 2022, is it normal, a coach who pushes his player like that? “Had posted the former OM midfielder. “Let him take care of Sassuolo, I take care of Paris FC”, reframes Laurey.
The Parisian coach then explained why he had behaved like this: “It was a moment of common nervousness. If I pushed Julien, it’s not because I wanted to fight him. I wanted him out of the field as soon as possible so as not to aggravate his case with a salty report from the referee. Again, there is nothing to argue about. When a player is in this state, he is able to do and say anything. That’s why I wanted him out of the referee’s field of vision. At this point in the match, there was tension. Taking a goal at 9 in the last five minutes would have been negligent… In the end, the referee’s report is correct. »
“Julien apologized and will be sanctioned by the leaders”
Julien Lopez, at Paris FC since 2017 and highly appreciated internally, has indeed received a single suspension match. He trained normally this week even if he should receive a sanction. “We took the time to talk, explains Laurey. Everything is dissipated. Julien also spoke to his teammates. He apologized. He will be sanctioned by the leaders. For me, it’s settled, I moved on. A moment of bewilderment can happen. Me, it happened to me when I was a player in Montpellier. I had been miserably expelled and left my team 9. So I can understand some things. I hope this mistake will serve as a lesson to everyone. It must not happen again. A red card like that, I can’t accept it. »
In addition to Julien Lopez, Cyril Mandouki, also expelled from Sochaux, received a two-game suspension. Paris FC also lost Lebogang Phiri, out after ten minutes of play. The South African international, one of the rookies of the off-season, should be out for six weeks.