FURIOUS Rennes president Nicolas Holveck has slammed the referee in charge of the club’s defeat to Chelsea.
His controversial decision-making swung the Champions League clash in favour of the Premier League side.
German ref Felix Zwayer has faced a backlash after a harsh yellow-card for handball against Dalbert – which saw the Brazilian concede a second penalty and get sent off.
Tammy Abraham’s close-range shot had deflected onto Dalbert’s raised arm, with the defender stood just inside the box.
After consulting VAR and the pitchside monitor, the referee pointed to the spot and then gave the hapless left-back his marching orders.
Pundits were left baffled and Rennes furious, with the president of the French club launching an attack on the ‘Man of the Match’ ref and asking why a handball appeal against Kurt Zouma at the other end was ignored.
Holveck told Telefoot via L’Equipe: “I am very proud of the coach (Julien Stephan). We should not be ashamed despite the score.”
“But there is more than disappointment, there is frustration. The man of the match was the referee.
“I would like them to explain to me the handball rules inside the box. If there is a handball from Dalbert while the ball has already touched his foot, what about the handball from Zouma? VAR wakes up for our [handball] but not theirs.
“And on top of that he gives a second yellow with that. We can be frustrated, more than frustrated. The result, it was the referee who made it.
“The match is killed at 2-0 while Alfred [Gomis, Rennes’ goalkeeper] has not had a save to make. We were certainly refereed like the newbie, and that is difficult to accept.
“You have less weight over the referee when you are Rennes than when you are Chelsea. When the referee has a good match, in general, you do not speak about him.
“But I think we are going to speak a lot about him this evening. Even the English media are unanimous in saying that it is a little scandal. Sleep will be hard to find.”
Pundits on BT Sport were left equally bemused by the sending off, which capped an awful night for Dalbert after he also gave away the first penalty when he clipped Timo Werner.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand said: “This is an absolute disgrace. The kid doesn’t intentionally block the ball with his hands. The referee goes over to the screen, deliberates and still gives it. It baffles me.
“It’s a joke. It’s that close that he’s only going to block the ball with his feet.
“He ruined the game for me. I was absolutely flabbergasted. Then the red card topped it all off.”
The former defender added the incident had once again called into question the harshness of the handball law, which has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after causing chaos in the Premier League.
Ferdinand said: “We’re fortunate to go to a few games and we get to speak to some of the players after the game and a lot of the time I’m asking these players, ‘how are you dealing with these penalty decisions and the new rules that have come in?’
“There hasn’t been one player who has said: ‘I’m totally fine with it.’ They’re all confused.”
“There are too many grey areas. A decision is made, the referee blows up, everyone’s in panic stations, heart rate’s going through the roof, because there’s so much uncertainty. I don’t think it’s great for the game.”
Ex-Chelsea favourite Joe Cole was left equally unsure about the decision-making.
He said: “How are you going to coach young defenders where to put your arms where you’re trying to defend because if you’re doing your job properly, you need to be athletic and stop the ball.
“Where are your arms supposed to go?
“It’s almost like Fifa and Uefa are trying to self-destruct. You’ve got this product that’s amazing, sells globally.
“All these rules that have come in, they’re trying to make it better, but sometimes you can’t improve on something that’s as good as football.”
The two penalties made it a comfortable night for Chelsea, with Werner – not Jorginho – converting both spot-kicks after being named the club’s new penalty taker.
Abraham wrapped up the scoring in the second-half when he tapped home a perfectly-delivered Reece James cross.
It means Chelsea have seven points out of a potential nine so far in their Champions League adventure, and are yet to concede in Europe.
In fact, last night they claimed their fifth clean sheet on the trot in all competitions and new goalkeeper Edouard Mendy – who missed the Blues’ 3-3 draw with Southampton – has now not conceded in six.
It’s a dramatic transformation for Frank Lampard’s side whose defence earlier in the season was causing huge concern for supporters.
