Once again, officiating is under the microscope in Ligue 1 after a heated match between Stade Rennais and Le Havre AC on Friday night.

Florent Batta was the referee in charge of that encounter, and Le Havre boss Didier Digard was less than impressed by some of his decisions.

Following his sides’ 1-0 defeat versus Rennes, Digard said, “It never changes. Their words are nice, but I’m not interested in it anymore.“

Digard was particularly upset about the two cards given in quick succession by Batta to Christopher Opéri (27) in the dying stages of that encounter.

That’s a decision Digard claimed was incorrect, calling it a way of covering up for an error.

Opéri was given two yellows in second-half stoppage time for protesting against Batta. “It’s too easy to card player; it’s scandalous,” said Digard.

Since claiming a 3-1 win over AJ Auxerre at the start of September, Digard has seen his team suffer six successive domestic defeats, failing to score in their last four Ligue 1 affairs.

Digard’s men currently find themselves in the relegation playoff position with six points from nine league contests,  just two points above direct relegation.

This is not the first time a Ligue 1 manager has cried foul against a referee this season.

Olympique de Marseille president Pablo Longoria has spoken out numerous times about the officiating, with the disciplinary committee suspending him for criticising the refs in his side’s 1-1 draw with Angers SCO.

Next week, Le Havre can put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone when they host Montpellier HSC.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre