Vahid Halilhodzic’s anger seemed justified. The FC Nantes coach received a red card during his team’s match against Brest on Sunday (1-1) for protesting too vehemently against Guillaume Paradis’ decision to send off Dehmaine Tabibou for a foul on Luck Zogb. This foul was considered as “preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity.”
According to our information, confirmed by L’Equipe, the match referee requested in a supplementary report that the red card given to the Nantes player be ultimately rescinded. While the Canaries were leading 1-0 at the hour mark, the official had harshly decided to exclude the midfielder for a foul on the Brest player, Luck Zogb, who seemed to be heading towards the goal.
“After reviewing the post-match footage, it appears that it is not 100% certain that Mr. Zogb had clear control of the ball following his touch. Thus, the initial decision, made on the field, to caution Mr. Tabibou Assoumani for unsporting behavior, should be maintained. I therefore recommend canceling the expulsion and reclassifying the disciplinary sanction with a warning for the aforementioned reason,” wrote Guillaume Paradis in his report submitted to the Professional Football League on Monday.
Tabibou could be available to play against PSG on Wednesday
This decision was made after long minutes of video consultation, which enraged Vahid Halilhodzic to the point of being sent off by Guillaume Paradis himself. The Nantes team eventually ended up being tied in stoppage time, after holding on to what could have been crucial three points in the fight against relegation.
“When I see injustice like this, I have to react,” Halilhodzic said on Ligue 1 +. “I am biased, but I did not understand all of that. I asked (the referee) later, why the red card? Some respect is needed, sir. Who does this gentleman think he is?”
It is now up to the disciplinary committee, which will meet on Tuesday at 2 p.m., to make a decision regarding the red card shown to Dehmaine Tabibou. If the expulsion is overturned, the Nantes player would be available to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday (7 p.m.) for a rescheduled match from the 26th round of the French Championship.
