By L’Équipe understand that Georges Mikautadze’s (23) red card, awarded in the dying stages of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Stade Rennais, will be rescinded.
Mikautadze got on the scoresheet and gave FC Metz the lead against Rennes, however, Julien Stéphan’s side fought back in the second half before netting an injury-time winner through Arnaud Kalimuendo. To add insult to injury, Ruddy Buquet then awarded Mikautadze a straight red card in the dying seconds after a relatively innocuous off-the-ball collision with Kalimuendo.
🟥 Georges Mikautadze was sent off for this collision with Kalimuendo, despite being instructed by VAR to review the incident.
🇬🇪 Given Mikautadze’s importance for Metz in recent weeks, it could be a momentous decision in the club’s fight for survival.pic.twitter.com/8xGzkWwQpY
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 4, 2024
Buquet was then sent to consult the decision, however, he stayed with his on-field decision after the VAR review, much to the frustration of Metz, and in particular manager Laszlo Bölöni, who was irate post-match.
😡 “If you’re blind you have a white cane. If we have VAR, use it!”
Laszlo Bölöni furious over refereeing decisions in Metz’s costly defeat to Rennes. ⬇️https://t.co/nRkiDpNVef
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 5, 2024
Given that Mikautadze (12 goals) has scored four times the amount of Metz’s second top-scorer Matthieu Udol (three goals) in Ligue 1, with just two games in the league season remaining, it could have been a fatal blow for Les Grenats’ chances of survival. Metz currently occupy the relegation play-off spot.
However, Buquet has now recognised his error. The referee has written to the LFP – Ligue 1’s governing body – to demand that the red card be rescinded, as per a report from L’Équipe.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
