LOSC Lille Metropole coach Rudi Garcia was sent off late in the match as his side’s miserable run of form continued with a 2-0 defeat at Stade Rennais in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Julien Feret gave the home side the lead in the 64th minute and Romain Alessandrini made sure of victory 11 minutes later.
Garcia was given his marching orders for protesting against a decision by the referee in the 89th minute.
Photo: AFP
Rennes moved up to 12th in the table with seven points from as many games. Lille, without a victory since their opening game of the season, are one place below them on the same points.
Lille were on top before the break, but they suffered after France midfielder Rio Mavuba was forced off with an injury six minutes into the second half.
Feret poked Rennes in front after goalkeeper Mickael Landreau parried a Jonathan Pitroipa effort into his path.
Alessandrini then made it 2-0 when he chested the ball down and fired in spectacularly from long range.
“We’re in trouble, we can’t seem to get there,” Lille fullback Mathieu Debuchy told BeIN Sport television.
The visitors were unlucky in the 66th minute when Aurelien Chedjou’s header hit the bar and bounced down the wrong side of the line.
Leaders Olympique de Marseille visit Valenciennes today, while second-placed Olympique Lyonnais entertain Girondins de Bordeaux.
CLUBS CRITICIZE TAX PLANS
Reuters, PARIS
Clubs and players lashed out after the French government on Friday unveiled its budget for next year, saying the new tax plans would have a “disastrous effect” on domestic soccer.
Tax increases include a “temporary” 75 percent levy on annual earnings in excess of 1 million euros (US$1.29 million) and a new rate of 45 percent on incomes above 150,000 euros. The existing rate is 40 percent on earnings above 69,505 euros.
The government said the new “temporary” levy would be in operation until the nation’s debts are cleared.
“The taxes will have a disastrous effect on the competitiveness of French football,” the professional clubs association (UCPF), the association of professional footballers and the French League said in a joint statement.
UCPF chief Philippe Diallo said the new taxes would cost the clubs about 150 million euros.
“The impact is significant for us in a very unfavorable period for French football, since we lost 131 million euros in 2011,” Diallo said. “In some cases it is the club who will pay the taxes of the players.”
Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who earns 9 million euros a year at Paris Saint-Germain according to media reports, will pay more than 6 million euros in taxes under the new government plans.
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