September 16 – French football debate was dominated at the weekend by arguably one of the most bizarre cases of VAR decision-making seen to date.
Rennes thought they had taken the lead in the Brittany derby with Brest when £19 million acquisition Raphinha netted in the 65th minute, only for the referee to disallow the goal for a foul on the keeper, then changing his mind not once but twice after consulting VAR and eventually sticking with his original decision.
Rennes went into the match knowing a victory would draw them level at the top. Instead the match resumed at 0-0 after nearly ten minutes of uncertainty and misunderstanding with Rennes president Olivier Letang as confused as everyone else.
“The situation was ambiguous to say the least,” he said on the club’s website. “It’s something I’ve never experienced. We will not enter the realms of paranoia or conspiracy theories, but … we are frustrated and disappointed.”
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