PSG Win the Coupe de la Ligue Amidst Controversy

Yesterday was France’s Coupe de la Ligue (French League Cup) final, held at the Stade de France between Paris Saint-Germain and Racing Club de Lens, otherwise known as PSG and Lens for short.

Both clubs are in danger of relegation, so both really needed this win in order to jump start the remainder of their campaign. Unfortunately for Lens, PSG came out the winners, though it was by no means a clear-cut victory.

With goals already scored by PSG’s Pedro Pauleta and Lens’ Eric Carriere, the game was heading into extra time when the referee, Laurent Duhamel, awarded a penalty in the dying seconds of the game. PSG’s Peguy Luyindula was fouled in the penalty box by Hilton and fell to the ground. Bernard Mendy slotted the ball home, and PSG was able to add another domestic cup to their already huge collection (PSG are the ultimate cup team).

However, replays show that the penalty was a dodgy one at best, and Luyindula just as easily could have gotten yellow carded for diving. It was a cruel blow to Lens, who were only seconds away from extra time.

To make matters worse, PSG fans had unfurled a very racist banner during the game, one which had upset nearly everyone, including French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was a guest at the game.

From the Guardian:

“Paedophiles, unemployed, inbred: welcome chez les Ch’tis” read the banner referring to a film about the life of the Ch’tis, a nickname for the people of northern France, which is breaking box office records in France.

Lens are now demanding a replay of the final and also want PSG punished for their fans. This isn’t the first time that PSG has gotten into trouble over their fans, and though the vast majority of them are quite nice, a small but particularly racist group of them keeps bringing PSG down with them.

Many people in France are also asking that the LFP examine the slipping standards of French refereeing, something brought to nationwide attention yesterday. For a long time now, players, managers, and officials have been unhappy with arbitration in France, and this game might finally force the LFP to recognize the problems.

And coupled with the fact that PSG and Lens might still get relegated at the end of this season, there isn’t much of a celebratory mood in France. After all, the award for winning the Coupe de la Ligue is a place in next season’s UEFA Cup, which would be pretty tough to manage if you’re playing in France’s second division.

The penalty:

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Category: French Ligue 1, World Football