PSG player Marco Verratti was enraged with referee Pierre Gaillouste after Sergio Ramos was sent off during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Reims (8 October). During halftime, he was observed criticising the referee’s decision in the tunnel.
Ramos was booked in the 40th minute of the Ligue 1 match at Stade Auguste Delaune for a challenge. The referee, though, astonishingly handed him a straight red card for disobedience.
What has Marco Verratti said to the referee?
Canal+, the broadcaster, saw Verratti furious with the decision during halftime. He was heard stating, “If the referee does this on purpose, it’s not good. We train all week to win to get f**ked like that. Why are you doing the protagonists?”
Verratti also shouted, “Why? They are mad!” PSG finally drew 0-0 with Reims, with Lionel Messi sitting out and Neymar Jr. coming off the bench.
Match Report
Ramos has found fresh life under Christophe Galtier this season, appearing in 14 games in all competitions. This is in sharp contrast to his debut season in Paris last summer, when he played just 13 games due to injury and poor form.
Meanwhile, the Parisians remain unbeaten in Ligue 1, three points ahead of second-placed Olympique Marseille. The match will take place at the Parc des Princes on October 16.
After the game, Galtier stated that the referee may have taken Ramos’ words personally, as such expressions are common on the football pitch.
He defended his player, saying (via L’Equipe),“I’m sure Sergio didn’t mean to insult the referee. He released an expression that I hear hundreds of times all week on the pitch, that we also hear in the Championship. When we are angry, we have words, we hear words but it is an expression”.
He added: “I think the referee took it for himself when knowing how it goes. I had the same problem for José Fonte in Lille. The referee had taken it as an insult against him when it is an expression that is often said on the ground“.
Despite the absence of Ramos, Galtier recognised that PSG needed to play better on the night. However, in the UEFA Champions League, PSG will host Benfica on Tuesday (11 October), while Marseille will travel to Sporting CP on Wednesday (12 October).
