PSG lost to Lyon by conceding a goal from Barcola in the second period. But an action just before half-time was certainly the turning point of the game. After that, in the 39th minute, the captain of Lyon Alexandre Lacazette sent his penalty on the post of Donnarumma (39th), the PSG claims one in additional time of the first period.
On a cross from Nuno Mendes, Dejan Lovren, the Croatian defender of Lyon, counters the ball with his hand. But the referee François Letexier first points to the corner post. After a quick call to the VAR, he confirms his decision. On the bench, Christophe Galtier and his staff are furious, like Luis Campos in the stands. For many observers, the hand and the penalty seem obvious…
These hands have not finished debating
Contacted this Sunday evening, former referee Bruno Derrien insisted on reviewing the action several times. He gives us a more nuanced opinion. “Yes, there is a hand, everyone has seen it,” he explains. And yes, it can be punishable. But when we refer to the laws of the game, the two possibilities could stand. We can never have uniformity on hand faults. This season in L1, there have been penalties whistled for similar hands. These are complex situations to analyze and always subject to debate. I can’t tell you if I would have whistled the penalty or not. For that, you have to be at the stadium to really feel the action. »
Bruno Derrien believes that Mr. Letexier “must have felt that there was no intentionality and that the distance between the ball and the hand was short”. Before concluding: “Of course, Lovren touches the ball with his hand but the referee considered that he had not artificially increased the surface between his body and the ball…”