Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani says he understands that the referee had no choice but to book him for taking his shirt off to unveil a message about the Chapecoense tragedy after scoring in the 2-0 win over Angers on Wednesday.
Cavani scored a 66th-minute penalty to double PSG's advantage and then took his shirt off to reveal another shirt with a message for the families of the victims of the Chapecoense plane crash on Tuesday that saw 71 people die.
Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, the Uruguay international said he spoke with the referee Frank Schneider before he was booked and "understood" because he knows "it is like this."
"I spoke in English with the referee and he told me it was a nice gesture but that he was obliged [to issue a yellow card] and that it is not allowed to send a message by removing your shirt," Cavani added. "The most important thing is that I was able to send the message I wanted to send. It was an emotional moment. I was happy for the team."
Former PSG player Jerome Rothen, now a RMC Radio pundit, was incredulous at Schneider's decision and inability to bend the rule.
"Will the referee be punished if he does not give the yellow card?" Rothen asked. "What can he be sanctioned for? How many tragedies are there in football? It would have been great if he was able to bypass the rules here."
Cavani was delighted to have reached the landmark of 100 PSG goals with his penalty, calling it "an important moment in my career," and adding: "It brings me lots of personal joy. I remember my first against Ajaccio."
However, he is said he is "not thinking about" targeting Zlatan Ibrahimovic's all-time record of 156 goals across all competitions just yet.
On his contractual situation with the French champions, he added: "I do not know what will happen. I have one year and a half left on my current deal and I will respect it. Ask the club."