ASSE Claims “Scandalous” Refereeing Cost MHSC Victory in Ligue 2 Clash
Montpellier, France - Accusations of biased officiating are flying following ASSE’s (Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne) 1-0 victory over montpellier HSC (MHSC) in a Ligue 2 match this past weekend. Multiple observers, including former players and a prominent RMC journalist, have labeled the refereeing performance as “scandalous,” citing missed penalty calls and a perceived unwillingness to protect MHSC players.
The controversy centers on several incidents, most notably challenges on MHSC’s Mbuku and Mendy within the penalty area. Julien Landry of RMC stated, “I still do not understand that in Ligue 2, there is not the Var. On Mbuku there are 12 times out of 10 penalty. He must put penalty on Mbuku and red card on the assassin Tacke of Annan.” He further questioned why MHSC doesn’t formally protest the officiating.
Former ASSE player Geoffrey Dernis acknowledged potential fouls, stating, “On Mbuku, every day, there is a fault. Obviously. He is hung. He must drop. Ditto on Mendy.” However, he cautioned against MHSC using the calls as an excuse, adding, “But it must not be a mhsc cache.” Benjamin Psalm, a former MHSC player, offered a more measured perspective, noting Mbuku’s experience in drawing fouls but also acknowledging the difficulty of the match for the referee.
The debate extends beyond penalty calls. dernis also criticized a defensive lapse that lead to ASSE’s winning goal,pointing out that a defender “fell up to his 6 meters,” creating space for ASSE’s Davitashvili to score. He emphasized the need for MHSC to quickly address these errors as they navigate the complexities of Ligue 2, where, as he stated, “Zoumana Camara will quickly see if the MHSC raises the foot or displays the same face as facing ASSE.”
Source: Montpellier Sport Club
