Ibrahima Konaté privately admits that he should have seen red for challenge on PSG’s Bradley Barcola | OneFootball

It was the contentious moment of the match. In the 25th minute, Bradley Barcola is closing in on goal. Ibrahima Konaté is beaten. There is contact between the pair with the former going into the back of his international teammate. Referee Davide Massa doesn’t blow for a foul. VAR does not signal a clear-and-obvious error and so neither a red card nor a penalty is given.

Paris Saint-Germain were left indignant as they went on to lose the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg 1-0 at the Parc des Princes last week. Sporting director Luís Campos was seen remonstrating with the referee at half-time, demanding either a red card or a penalty for Konaté’s challenge.

Konaté, speaking to Canal Plus, reacted to the contentious moment post-match. “There was a VAR check. If there was a push, like you said, I would have been shown a red card. I’m telling you that there wasn’t a foul. It’s true that I am very strong but I don’t apply power, I just put my arm. If I had put a lot more power into it then we could talk about it… but it was soft from me,” he said.

However, that does not mirror his discourse in private. According to Le Parisien, Konaté has admitted to those close to him, in private, that he deserved a red card for the challenge.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle