Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly unhappy with the wording of referee Jérémie Pignard's report following Nuno Mendes' red card in their 1-0 defeat to Lens in the Trophée des Champions.
The Portuguese full-back was sent off late in the match, leaving PSG to finish the contest with 10 men as Lens held on to claim the trophy. The incident itself has now become a bigger concern for the French champions because of the language reportedly used in the referee's official report.
Interestingly, PSG's frustration is reportedly not primarily with the decision to send Mendes off.
The club hierarchy reportedly accepts that the defender deserved to be dismissed. Instead, PSG are concerned about how the incident was described in Pignard's report.
According to reports, the referee described the incident as a “violent strike off the ball”. That wording could have an important impact on the disciplinary commission's decision.
The exact wording of a referee's report can influence the severity of a subsequent suspension.
PSG reportedly believe the description does not accurately reflect what happened and are particularly unhappy with the suggestion that the incident occurred entirely off the ball.
The club's position is that play had already resumed when Mendes made his movement, adding another layer to the dispute surrounding the incident.
The red card was the final setback in an extremely frustrating evening for Luis Enrique's side.
PSG entered the Trophée des Champions as favourites but were beaten 1-0 by Lens, with Florian Thauvin scoring the decisive goal.
Lens themselves had been reduced to 10 men earlier in the match, yet PSG were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority and ultimately failed to find an equaliser.
The biggest concern for Mendes is now the disciplinary verdict.
The commission will review the referee's report before deciding how long the defender will be suspended. If the wording is interpreted as a particularly serious offence, Mendes could face a more substantial ban than PSG would have expected.
That could create an early-season problem for Luis Enrique.
Mendes is an important part of PSG's defensive structure, and losing him for several matches would leave the club without one of its most talented options at left-back.
The situation makes the defeat to Lens even more disappointing for PSG.
Rather than beginning the new campaign with another trophy, the European champions left the match empty-handed and could now lose Mendes for a period because of the disciplinary consequences.
For a team with ambitions of competing on multiple fronts, that is far from ideal.
Nuno Mendes' red card has quickly become one of the biggest talking points surrounding PSG.
The club reportedly accepts that the dismissal itself was justified but strongly disagrees with the description contained in the referee's report.
The disciplinary commission's eventual decision will determine just how damaging the incident becomes.
For now, PSG and Mendes must wait.
What began as a late red card in a disappointing defeat could potentially turn into a significant suspension — making the referee's report crucial to what happens next.
