Franck Haise after Lens posted a video of officiating errors against Brest: “Our most poorly refereed match in a decade.” | OneFootball

As entertaining as the Ligue 1 race has been this season, the refereeing has not been to the same level as the play on the pitch. Whether it be the massive amounts of red cards or VAR being underutilized during seemingly clear calls, officiating has been inconsistent and damaging to the title race.

After their draw against Brest Lens took to social media to post a video of what they saw as officiating errors. Possibly the biggest missed call was a clear handball that started the counter for Brest that led to their goal.

Head coach Franck Haise gave his take on the officiating stating, “You have to give the context of the publication of this video. There are often emotional positions taken at the end of each match. We wanted there to be a debate – that’s the case – but also by repositioning the images, because it’s too easy to make a scene when people don’t have the images. Now we’re neither a whiny club nor panicking, but yesterday, we consider that it was perhaps the game where we were the most poorly refereed in a decade.”

With the race so close every point matters. VAR was intended to raise the level of officiating and create consistency by having another layer of review. Yet, there are many times when VAR is used in one situation, but not in another. Lens may have gone the extra mile by making a highlight video of their complaints, but this year Ligue 1 refereeing has been the headline over many of the matches. That may signal it is time for a review.

GFFN | Tony DesRois