Samba penalized for time-wasting, Rennes concedes draw against PSG (2-2)

Stade Rennais let slip a victory secured at half-time by conceding a draw to PSG (2-2) on Sunday, in the closing match of Ligue 1 matchday 1. The encounter was also marked by the application, for the first time in French league play, of the new rule penalizing time-wasting.

Rennes had made a strong start to the evening. Sebastian Szymanski opened the scoring, before Esteban Lepaul doubled the lead shortly before half-time. But Franck Haise’s side sought to preserve their advantage in the second half through means that irritated Luis Enrique. “We had meetings with the referees where they say they’re going to do things but then… That’s how it is. I’m frustrated about various situations, of course,” the Spanish manager said at his press conference.

Referee Dechepy did not take long to intervene. As Brice Samba was clearly taking his time to make a clearance, the official awarded a corner to the Parisians, in accordance with the new rule that came into force during the 2026 World Cup. The principle is straightforward: if a player delays restarting play, the referee triggers a five-second countdown; once that time expires, the opponent receives a corner when it involves a goalkeeper clearance.

The sanction apparently caught Samba and the entire Rennes staff off guard. One of Franck Haise’s assistants even expressed surprise that the referee had not made this countdown visible before blowing the whistle, arguing that the protocol had not been followed properly.

This draw therefore leaves Rennes with regrets: the Breton club can be satisfied with not losing to the defending French champions, but it knows it held a prestigious victory before Paris turned the tables in the second half.