Bordeaux have denied allegations that manager Albert Riera slapped an opposition player after a 2-1 defeat to St Etienne.
Riera – a former Liverpool player – took charge of the Ligue 2 side in October 2023 after they dismissed David Guion after a run of poor form.
The club currently sit 13th in France’s second division and took on St Etienne on Saturday (April 20) but were defeated thanks to a late double from Irvin Cardona who bagged twice in stoppage time.
The game was marred by an alleged incident after full time with Riera, 42, being accused of slapping an opposition player. According to RMC Sport, a journalist from beIN Sports who attended the match claimed that the Bordeaux boss ‘slapped’ the anonymous opponent after a ‘scuffle broke out in the tunnel’.
Despite the reports, the French outfit have denied that such an incident occurred in a statement they released on the club’s website following the game.
“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”. According to RMC, no footage of the alleged incident was broadcast live. The heart-breaking defeat leaves Bordeaux wallowing mid-table as they’re set for a third consecutive season in Ligue 2. Riera joined the French side after a brief spell as manager of Slovenian side Celje
