Online petition for France’s Euro 2020 last-16 clash against Switzerland to be replayed gets more than a quarter of a million signatures after it alleges Yann Sommer was off his line when he saved Kylian Mbappe’s penalty
An online petition demanding the Euro 2020 last-16 game between France and Switzerland be replayed has been signed by over a quarter of a million people.
The Swiss beat France 5-4 on penalties after a pulsating 3-3 draw, which prompted an aggrieved fan of Les Blues to post the petition on French website Les Lignes Bougent.
It claimed that Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer didn’t have his feet on or behind the line prior to saving Kylian Mbappe’s crucial penalty, as per the Laws of the Game.
Kylian Mbappe’s crucial spot kick was saved by Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer
Sommer celebrates after his save ensured the Swiss advanced to the Euro 2020 quarter finals
‘During the penalty shootout for the France-Switzerland match, goalkeeper Sommer was not on his line during Mbappe’s shot,’ read the petition, addressed directly to UEFA.
‘We request the cancellation of the qualification of Switzerland and therefore to replay the match. Sport must be played within the rules and that evening the rules were not respected.’
Amazingly, the impassioned plea garnered around 270,000 signatures from likeminded frustrated French fans. The petition also subsequently attracted substantial media attention in France and Switzerland.
However, replays show that Sommer’s back foot was fixed on the line the moment that Mbappe struck that ill-fated spot kick. The save ensured the Swiss qualified for the quarter finals of a major tournament for the first since the 1954 World Cup.
Switzerland qualified for the quarter finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1954
As per UEFA protocol, Mbappe’s decisive penalty was rigorously checked by VAR before the end of the match was confirmed, further damaging the substance of the petition.
This prompted Les Lignes Bougent to contact the man who originally posted the petition to discuss removing it from the platform.
‘We spoke with the author of the petition to find out the follow-up he wanted to give to his petition and he indicated to us that he preferred to stop it,’ read a post on the site.
‘Let’s be a good sport. The Swiss fully deserved their victory and the French have nothing to be ashamed of by fighting until the end!’
Switzerland will face Spain in their Euro 2020 quarter final on Friday afternoon at Russia’s Krestovsky Stadium.
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