Giroud claims Verratti 'tricked' referee before red-card decision

Referee Viktor Kassai was the victim of a deceitful Marco Verratti during Tuesday's Champions League match, according to Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud.

After the group-stage contest finished 1-1, Giroud accused the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder of tricking Kassai into penalising him in the second half during, as the French forward puts it, a "small challenge" near the touchline.

Giroud, who was already on a yellow card, was left baffled by Verratti's tactics, considering the Italian was also facing the possibility of being sent off. Both players were eventually shown a second yellow card and were promptly dismissed from the fixture.

"I'd already been booked so didn't want to make trouble,” Giroud told reporters.

“I made a small challenge on Verratti but he threw himself onto the ground. I didn't understand, so I asked him, "what are you doing?’, then he got up quickly and Marquinhos pushed me from behind. I don't know how Verratti fell over a second time.

"I didn't go looking for trouble so it's frustrating. I think that the referee was tricked. Verratti was also on a yellow, so I was surprised by his behaviour.”

Because both players had already been cautioned earlier in the match, neither can appeal the red card and will be forced to miss one match.

Kassai's ruling means Giroud will miss Arsenal's next match against Basel on Sept. 28, while Verratti will be forced to sit out PSG's tie with Ludogoretz.