PARIS SAINT GERMAIN coach Unai Emery has called for referees to better protect marquee players after Brazilian superstar Neymar was sent off in a 2-2 draw in their bitter grudge match with Marseille on Sunday.
Neymar was not only constantly harried and niggled by a series of fouls in the game, but also pelted by Stade Velodrome fans with coins and even lighters whilst taking corners.
The former Barcelona star eventually lost his cool and was sent off for two yellow cards late on, both for retaliation with him appearing to aim a headbutt at Marseille’s Argentine striker Lucas Ocampos.
“We are a bit disappointed by the sending off because he was fouled a great deal during the game,” said Emery.
“He suffered four serious fouls from our opponents which continued and continued and continued,” said Emery, insisting the world’s most expensive player had been provoked throughout the match.
Neymar had been excellent for PSG scoring a cool-headed equaliser and looking every inch a big game player until his rush of blood to the head and the red card with his side 2-1 down in the 88th minute.
“I believe the referee should have had a good think about it. We need to protect the great players,” said Emery.
“Those yellow cards were not fair on Neymar, he’s a man who wants to play.
“He hasn’t been battered here, but if he gets that treatment every game…” Emery said of the 25-year-old who joined PSG for a world-record 222 million euros ($261.5 million) in the close season.
“It’s up to all of us to protect the big players, on both sides, because (Dimitri) Payet is also a good player,” said Emery in reference to the Marseille playmaker.
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Well done Meath. Great game. Excellent advertisement for Ladies GAA.
Hard luck, Kayleigh, and the rest of the Kerry team. Better luck next year.
@Padraig O Muirthile: the skill in that game was better than any game in gaa this year hurling football or whatever
Fabulous game, that’s a great Meath team. A joy to watch their passing, no glory hunters, all full team players.
Congratulations great game of football
@Derek hutchings: Not sure about it being a great game. Outside of their opening burst of scores Kerry only scored 5 times for the rest of the game. That’s about 1 score every 10 minutes.
Super defensive showing by Meath but Kerry looked decidedly naive. Kerry will learn from today (both management & players) and will be better if they reach the final again next year.
Am I the the only one who thought referee was officious and ruined many aspects of the game by not applying the advantage. It was a great game which could have been much better if allowed flow.
@Liam O’Flaherty: Maggie does always try make the game about her. When she does linesperson the ref spends most of the game getting called over by Maggie.
@Michael Anthony: as a neutral I thought she ruined what could have been a classic. Both teams must have been frustrated by her.
@Liam O’Flaherty: I thought that as well I think the GAA need to change some of the rules like not been able to do a fair shoulder and tackle a player most of those players if not all go to the gym so would be able for the rough and tumble of the game that’s what ruined it for me
Some team
Great game much better fare than last week
Congrats to meath. Was I the only one who thought it was a poor game
Time to split Meath
@Glen Durney: We could call them Meath & Westmeath
@Cian Mac Eoin: what about East Meath?
@Eugene O Doherty: north Meath. Capital oldcastle
In the first minute Farrelly gave 2 frees against Meath for charging and both were blatant trips. She kept this consistency up throughout the game and did her best to ruin it. It’s almost like a feather in cap for ladies football refs to send Vicki Wall off. Gets pulled and dragged all day, every day and gets sin binned for the abuse she takes.
Great game, thought Emma Duggan was unlucky not to get player of the game
It’s time to split Meath. East Meath and… oh hold on
That’s the tender Palace niteclub ruined again overrun again by red face, un-maked-up ‘ladies’ of sport wearing their sports kit on ze dance floor.