PARIS (AP) - The video assistant referee system has been much talked about since being used at the World Cup earlier this year - praised by some for spotting fouls, criticized by others for slowing down matches.
On Sunday, VAR attracted attention for another reason altogether: it stopped working during the 1-1 draw between Rennes and Toulouse.
“The fourth official came to see me 10 minutes from the end of halftime to tell me it wasn’t working,” Toulouse coach Alain Casanova said. “There was a problem, quite simply.”
Casanova said he and his Rennes counterpart, Sabri Lamouchi, as well as the two team captains, were all informed before the second half started.
Toulouse may have cause for regret because VAR was not used to review images when a penalty was given to Rennes midway through the second period. It was awarded after striker M’Baye Niang fell under a challenge from Jean-Clair Todibo, who was shown a yellow card for protesting the decision.
Niang converted in the 70 minute, but Todibo headed in the equalizer two minutes from time for Toulouse.
Toulouse played with 10 men for the second half after forward Aaron Leya Iseka was sent off in the 43rd for a second yellow card.
The draw leaves Rennes struggling in 16th place - two places above the relegation zone - while Toulouse is seventh.
IMPRESSIVE MONTPELLIER
Montpellier continued its fine start by beating local rival Nimes 3-0 to move into second place - although Marseille can take second by winning at Lille later Sunday.
Defender Ambroise Oyongo put Montpellier ahead and striker Andy Delort made it 2-0 after nine minutes of first-half injury time. A metal gate gave way after Montpellier fans celebrated Oyongo’s goal, sending a few of them spilling onto the pitch and causing the match to be delayed.
Reports said two fans sustained light injuries.
The outstanding Florent Mollet set up striker Gaetan Laborde for a diving header in the 79th, after which a crowd disturbance caused the match to be stopped for about 30 minutes.
Some 70-80 riot police came onto the pitch to block a section of agitated Montpellier fans from confronting their Nimes counterparts.