OM-PSG: Did Mr. Letexier lie?

Many cannot digest Mr. Letexier’s refereeing during the Classic between OM and PSG, Sunday evening at the Vélodrome (0-3), judging his red card to Amine Harit too severe and hasty for a such a poster. “ I hear his explanations and he has the right to say that he referees on the technical side and the protection of the players. But man, that’s not all you’re here forplague this Monday evening on RMC Christophe Dugarry.

They (the referees, editor’s note) will spend their time showing red cards because there are hits and contacts, injuries, bruises and scratches all the time. They are also there to bring fluidity, impact and quality to the game. It is he (the referee, editor’s note) who is the metronome of the match. He can explain to me what he wants but this match is not refereed like any other match. »

Hot on the air of DAZN, Mr. Letexier was nevertheless able to justify his decision. “ From the start, I have the feeling that this gesture endangers the physical integrity of his opponent. Video assistance does not consider my decision to be a clear error. On the contrary, it confirms to me that my perception is real, that there is contact of the sole at the level of the torso, with an angle which was not broadcast by the production. It allows you to see the duel in profile and when there is a freeze frame, you can clearly see contact between the sole and the sternum. » A version contested this Monday by the management of the broadcaster concerned.

DAZN’s achievement does not include

Editorial director of DAZN, Stefano Bernabino does not understand the referee’s demonstration. “ When he talks about the camera angle that wouldn’t have been broadcast, we’re quite surprised. In the OB van with Fred Godard, the director, we don’t understand, because we have shown all the angles at our disposal. Moreover, at this time, we are in the process of rebroadcasting all the images already shown during the match.

» « We broadcast the action as a whole, then the action taken by the opposite camera, also that of the rear-goal camera from behind and the reverse shot from the frontconfirms Fred Godard to L’Equipe. I showed what I had best to try to understand. Then, the VAR is an independent cell which has, at its disposal, exactly the same cameras as ours. There is no hidden camera intended for them. »

The Professional Football League, contacted by the sports daily on this specific question, says nothing else: “

Twenty-two cameras were used on Sunday evening and they are still absolutely the same ones used by the broadcaster and the VAR. The referees receive all the signals but work more frame by frame using Hawk Eye software, such as on offside decisions. » It was therefore on a fixed image and the observation of the mark left on the chest of Marquinhos that the refereeing body agreed on the expulsion of Amine Harit.