Stade Brestois manager Éric Roy was highly critical of Eric Wattellier’s “incompetent” refereeing display in Sunday’s 2-0 loss against AS Monaco.
Brest had the ball in the net twice in the first half, but both goals were ruled out. The first was ruled out by VAR as Folarin Balogun was adjudged to have been fouled in the build-up. Roy described the foul, committed by Pierre Lees-Melou on the USMNT forward as “really minuscule.”
Brest then saw another goal chalked off for offside, whilst Brest also believe they should have been awarded a penalty when Jérémy Le Douaron was brought down by Krépin Diatta in the box. Wattellier did not blow for a penalty and VAR did not contradict him.
In a post-match press conference, attended by Get French Football News, Roy voiced his frustration at the refereeing display. “The overriding emotions are frustration, incomprehension, anger. We don’t know why VAR is called upon when the initial decision is in favour and not when it’s the other way around. In French football, we decide a lot of close matches, like tonight’s match, not necessarily with refereeing decisions, but VAR decisions […] Maybe it’s incompetence, I don’t know,” said Roy.
Le Douaron, who felt aggrieved not to have received a penalty after being brought down in the box, described Wattellier’s performance as “a scandal.”
“All of the decisions went against us […] It’s us, it’s Brest – the foul on Balogun isn’t called if it’s Monaco and the goal would be given. How he can’t award the penalty, I don’t know. Everyone saw the foul. It’s a bit of a scandal,” said Le Douaron.
