- St Etienne made a late comeback, with Irvin Cardona netting a brace in stoppage time
- It was alleged that Albert Riera ‘punched’ a St Etienne player at full-time
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Bordeaux have denied allegations that their manager, and former Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera, allegedly ‘punched an opponent’ after their 2-1 defeat to St Etienne on Saturday.
According to RMC Sportsa journalist from beIN Sports, who was at the match, claimed the Bordeaux manager ‘slapped’ the unknown opponent after ‘a scuffle broke out in the tunnel’.
Despite the reports, Bordeaux has denied that the incident took place statement about the club website on Saturday.
“FC Girondins de Bordeaux would like to correct the incorrect information circulating on social networks after tonight’s match,” Bordeaux wrote.
‘After the match there was a short rush at the entrance to the dressing room, to which our coach responded simply. Both the arbitrators and the delegates did not consider it necessary to prepare a report.’
Bordeaux have denied that manager Albert Riera ‘slapped’ a player after Saturday’s loss
Bordeaux were defeated 2-1 by St Etienne in a dramatic match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Bordeaux wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘FC Girondins de Bordeaux wants to correct the incorrect information circulating on social networks after tonight’s match’
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According to RMC, no images of the incident were broadcast live.
The defeat leaves Bordeaux 14th in the Ligue 2 standings, while Riera’s side have not won in their last two league games.
They had taken the lead in the match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, with Spanish midfielder Pedro Diaz putting Bordeaux 1-0 ahead just before half-time. St Etienne were reduced to 10 men after Mikel Nade collided with Bordeaux’s Vital Nsimba.
Bordeaux then had several chances but in a dramatic turn of events, St Etienne striker Irvin Cardona scored twice in stoppage time to snatch victory away from the visitors in the dying moments of the match.
Riera, who played for both Liverpool and Manchester City, was appointed manager of Bordeaux in October 2023, returning to the French team after making 66 appearances for Les Girondis in the early years of his professional career between 2003 and 2005.
Allegations were made that Riera ‘slapped’ an opposition player after a ‘scuffle in the tunnel’ ensued at full-time
Riera played 66 games for Liverpool between 2008 and 2010 before being frozen out by Rafa Benitez
St Etienne defender Mickael Nade was sent off in the second half as tempers flared on the pitch
Perdo Diaz would score just before half time to give Bordeaux a 1-0 lead in the match
Irvin Cardona would stage a late comeback, scoring twice in stoppage time to seal the 2-1 win
St Etienne’s players celebrated the victory after consolidating their position in third place in Ligue 2
In later years, the 42-year-old would move to Liverpool, where he would make 56 appearances in all competitions under Rafa Benitez, before going on to play for Olympiacos, Watford and several other teams.
The Spain international was suspended by Benitez in 2010 after publicly criticizing the Reds boss and calling Liverpool out. The guarda ‘sinking ship’.
Riera then hung up his boots in 2016 before moving into management. he took on an assistant coach role at Galatasaray, before managing Slovenian teams NK Celjie and NK Olimpija Ljubljana.
