Kongo Kim Sees Red

By: Inara | August 12th, 2007

The always unflappable Kim Kallstrom lost his temper against Toulouse, a team which has recently become Lyon’s bête noire. After he was red carded and expelled from the game, Lyon were at a disadvantage and lost due to Johan Elmander’s last gasp goal.

What happened: In the 35th minute, Toulouse’s Nicolas Dieuze elbowed Kallstrom in the face, causing him head pain and bleeding. But the referee did not call a foul. Kallstrom, told to leave the pitch to get treatment, instead asked for a free kick instead. When the fourth official entered the scene to get him off, Kallstrom spit in his direction. Read about the match here.

“Get off my pitch, Kimmy.”

Kallstrom, considered to be a very clean player (he picked up only one yellow card in the league last season, and only one red card in his entire career), admitted that he was wrong to have spit in the direction of the fourth official but did not do so intentionally. He was injured, and what’s more, angry that no foul was called on Dieuze.

I was hit by an elbow right in front of the referee. I bled, and I spit, but not on him (the fourth official). Within a few meters of him. Nevertheless, it is a big mistake…I don’t have an explanation. This is the first time that this happened to me. But the worst consequence was that I put my teammates in difficulty. A defeat is the heaviest of sanctions. All points are worth a lot. It is because of my expulsion that the match was lost.

After the match, Kallstrom apologized to the official, shook his hand, and cleared the air between them. He also apologized to his teammates and coaches, very aware that he cost his team a crucial three points. Kallstrom, however, says the red card was justified, though he hopes he doesn’t get sanctioned further.

The incident.

Aulas, naturally, had a lot of say, not only about Kallstrom’s red card but also about the anti-Lyon sentiments of Canal+, the broadcasters who own the television rights to L1. His post-match diatribe was apparently so vitriolic it was censored by Canal+ (listen to all of JMA’s conspiracy theories here).

He [the referee] cannot arbitrate at this level and not know the personality of the players. Kim [Kallstrom] is an exemplary player who never makes fouls. To even think that he can have this sort of reaction.

Perrin, on the other hand, was more reasonable about Kallstrom’s red card.

He put us in difficultly. When someone is the victim of an unsanctioned foul, there is a feeling of injustice. The red card is not contestable since the player reacted in a way he shouldn’t have. But what is contestable is what happened before. If those actions [Dieuze's foul] had been treated differently, his reaction would not have taken place. At the high level, it is necessary to be able to absorb all frustrations, but it is also necessary to excuse a player, who, under pressure and the victim of an agression, is wounded and can have such a reaction. Nine times out of ten, Kim will react positively.

In any case, expect Lyon to lodge a protest with the LFP’s disciplinary committee about Kallstrom’s red card. If Aulas is convincing, the LFP will only suspend Kallstrom one match (against Lorient) and put him on probation for another three. But if they are convinced that the spitting was intentional, he could see a longer suspension.

Already down two defenders and two strikers, the loss of Kallstrom, who has lately become a key component to the Lyon setup, would be a fatal blow.

So is there any good news? Believe it or not, there is. Kallstrom has confirmed that while Valencia’s offer was flattering, he will accept Lyon’s contract extension and remain at the club (it’s the least he could do, really).