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7 months ago
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Bordeaux have denied allegations that their manager, and former Liverpool midfielder, Albert Riera had allegedly 'slapped an opposition player' after their 2-1 defeat by St Etienne on Saturday.
According to RMC Sport, a journalist from beIN Sports, who was at the match, claimed that the Bordeaux manager 'slapped' the unidentified opponent after a 'scuffle broke out in the tunnel'.
Despite the reports, Bordeaux have denied that the incident occurred, releasing a statement on the club's website on Saturday.
'FC Girondins de Bordeaux wishes to correct the erroneous information circulating on social networks following this evening's match,' Bordeaux wrote.
'A brief stampede took place at the entrance to the locker room after the match, to which our coach simply reacted. Both the arbitrators and the delegates did not consider it necessary to make a report.'
Bordeaux have denied that manager Albert Riera 'slapped' a player after their loss on Saturday
Bordeaux were beaten 2-1 by St Etienne in a dramatic match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Bordeaux wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'FC Girondins de Bordeaux wishes to correct the erroneous information circulating on social networks following this evening's match'
According to RMC, no footage of the incident was broadcast live.
The defeat left Bordeaux 14th in the Ligue 2 standings with Riera's side having not won in their last two league games.
They had taken the lead in the game at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, with Spanish midfielder Pedro Diaz putting Bordeaux 1-0 up just before half-time. St Etienne were sent down to 10 men after Mikel Nade clashed with Bordeaux's Vital Nsimba.
Bordeaux had several opportunities after that, but a dramatic turn of events saw St Etienne striker Irvin Cardona score twice in injury time to snatch victory away from the visitors in the dying embers of the match.
Riera, who enjoyed spells with both Liverpool and Manchester City, was appointed Bordeaux manager in October 2023, returning to the French outfit after making 66 appearances for Les Girondis in the fledgling years of his professional career between 2003 and 2005.
Allegations were made that Riera 'slapped' an opposition player after a 'scuffle ensued in the tunnel' at full time
Riera made 66 appearances for Liverpool as a player between 2008 and 2010 before he was frozen out by Rafa Benitez
St Etienne defender Mickael Nade was sent off in the second half as tempers flared on field
Perdo Diaz would score just before half-time to give Bordeaux a 1-0 lead in the match
Irvin Cardona would inspire a late comeback, scoring twice in injury time to seal the 2-1 win
St Etienne players celebrated the victory after consolidating their position at third 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 moving on to play for Olympiacos, Watford and several other sides.
The Spain international was suspended by Benitez in 2010 after he had openly criticised the Reds boss and called Liverpool, per The Guardian, a 'sinking ship'.
Riera went on to hang up his boots in 2016, before stepping into management, taking up an assistant coaching role at Galatasaray, before managing Slovenian sides NK Celjie and NK Olimpija Ljubljana.
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