Rennes midfielder Seko Fofana has openly criticised the officiating during his side’s 4-1 loss to Olympique Lyonnais on Saturday, expressing deep frustration over what he perceived to be a pivotal refereeing oversight in the build-up to Lyon’s opening goal.
The match, played at Groupama Stadium as part of Matchday 31 in Ligue 1, saw Rennes unravel after conceding early, with Fofana claiming that the decisive first goal should not have stood due to the ball potentially crossing the sideline before play resumed. The Ivorian international did not hold back in his post-match reaction.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” Fofana said, as quoted by Foot Mercato. “We started the match with the right intentions, but then we conceded a goal that, in my view, shouldn’t have been allowed.
I believe the ball went out of bounds beforehand, though we have to respect the decisions on the pitch.”
Following that controversial moment, Rennes appeared to lose their composure. Lyon, emboldened by their lead, quickly added two more goals before the half-time whistle, leaving the visiting side with a mountain to climb. Despite flashes of resistance, Fofana admitted the performance was far from acceptable.
“We can’t concede goals like that — not at this level,” he continued. “There were also situations where I think goals were scored from offside positions.
Tactically, the plan was to press high, disrupt their play, and recover the ball quickly. But it simply didn’t work. They forced us to chase the game, and we suffered for it.”
The loss marked a disappointing evening for Rennes, who had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks.
While Lyon demonstrated clinical finishing and composure in possession, Rennes struggled to find rhythm and cohesion, particularly in defence.
Despite the heavy defeat, Fofana remained composed when addressing the future of his team. He pointed to the squad’s youth and development stage as part of the learning curve and urged supporters to stay patient.
“We’re actually among the top three teams in terms of results since the halfway point of the season,” he noted. “That shows we’re moving in the right direction. We’ve got a lot of young players still adjusting to this level. These matches, even when painful, will serve us going forward.”
Fofana emphasised that the club’s immediate priority is maintaining top-flight status and laying the groundwork for a more consistent campaign next season.
“Our main goal remains staying up. We need to find our rhythm, stay focused, and make sure we’re building something long-term. With a full preseason together, I’m confident we can come back stronger. There’s no panic — I’m not worried,” he concluded.
Rennes, who have experienced a season of highs and lows, will be looking to bounce back in their next fixture as they seek to consolidate their position in Ligue 1 and avoid being drawn into a late relegation battle.
