Auxerre suffered an unjustified penalty in its match against Lens, which ended 5-2 in favor of the Aigles. The FFF acknowledged the mistake, stating the contact was not a deliberate handball and that the VAR should not have recommended a review.
Why was the penalty overturned?
The first penalty was awarded at the 10th minute, after a tussle between Piedfort of Auxerre and Ganiou of Lens. The contact pushed the defender’s hand toward the ball, but the arbitration board ruled it was not a deliberate handball. According to Law 12, contact must be intentional to be penalized. The VAR did not recommend a replay, which would have allowed the penalty to be cancelled.
What impact did this decision have on Auxerre?
The decision left Auxerre trailing, 17th in Ligue 1, 0 points after a losing match. The club has scored 2 goals and conceded 5, a goal difference of -3. Lens’s win puts them 3 points behind leaders Marseille. Auxerre must now prepare for its next match against Angers, scheduled for August 29 at home, in 16th place.
How did the arbitration direction justify its view?
The Arbitration Direction stated: "The contact caused by the attacker at the defender’s arm level is the origin of the movement that leads the defender’s hand toward the ball." It also added: "The video referee should have recommended a replay so that the central referee could cancel the penalty." These quotes come from Le Figaro.
What are Auxerre’s next steps?
Auxerre must strengthen its defense after this setback. The club can check our fixtures page for the upcoming match against Angers. To see the current squad, visit the squad page. Season statistics are available on the stats page. Remaining 17th, Auxerre must avoid a losing streak to stay in the upper half of the table.
Auxerre will also need to assess Piedfort’s performance and that of his teammates. Coaches will decide if tactical adjustments are needed to avoid future unjustified penalties. The club remains focused on survival in Ligue 1 while looking to improve its goal difference.
