What occurred on Sunday in the Ligue 1 clash between French giants Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille is something we have not seen in a long time. The match itself was full of fouls and crunching challenges on either side, but the end was the worst part by far.
A massive brawl broke out in the 96th minute, one which resulted in five red cards. Neymar‘s red card for slapping Alvaro Gonzalez in the head was the headline, particularly because of the root of the problem.
Neymar Accuses Alvaro Gonzalez of Racism as Paris Saint-Germain Lose to Marseille
What Happened?
After the game, Neymar took to social media to explain what had transpired and accused Gonzalez of racism. He said that his only regret was not hitting the player in the face, after allegedly hearing racist remarks from Gonzalez. Videos also emerged of the Brazilian shouting “Racismo No” at the officials and Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Provided the allegations are confirmed, Gonzalez would face severe punishment from the French Football Federation (FFF)
Five Red Cards, 14 Yellows
It’s safe to say that the incident with Neymar was not the only moment of foul play in the match. It was an absolutely wild encounter, also featuring disallowed goals for either side and a whopping 36 fouls.
Referee Jerome Brisard clearly lacked control of this game and should have done more to stamp his authority earlier in the match. The brawl at the end of the match was also the result of pent-up aggression on both sides, something a referee should have settled.
Two Defeats in a Row for Paris Saint-Germain Following Marseille Loss
PSG will end the week in the relegation zone. Following back-to-back losses, the French side are 18th.
Of course, there are extraordinary circumstances at play here, such as a large chunk of the squad being diagnosed with COVID-19. Either way, two losses in a row to open the season is not ideal.
They had Neymar and Angel Di Maria back for the Marseille clash, but it wasn’t enough. PSG need to recover their form, or they face the possibility of not winning the Ligue 1 title for just the second time in nine years.
It’s crazy to think that this squad reached the Champions League final less than a month ago. They are spiralling out of control at the moment, and these red cards won’t have done them any good.
The bottom line is, the FFF needs to investigate Neymar’s accusations, as at the end of the day, dealing with such issues takes priority.
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