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Rosenborg boss Per-Mathias Högmo was furious with Lyon after watching his side lose to the Ligue 1 leaders in controversial circumstances yesterday.
Brazilian striker Fred struck a stoppage-time winner to seal a 2-1 result in the Champions' League Group F clash, but only after Sylvain Wiltord – who started the move – ignored a Norwegian player lying injured on the ground.
"I think the second Lyon goal was not exactly fair play," protested Högmo. "It was French arrogance in its worst form. Lyon had two chances to put the ball out while we had a man down injured, and they chose not to do so.
"That's not how champions act. And that's why my players were so angry, not to mention that the point we lost unfairly could influence our ranking when we return to the competition."
A mass brawl broke out after the final whistle, and one of the men at the heart of the scenes was former Saint-Etienne defender John Kvarme.
"I wonder if the term 'fair play' has been translated into French," he commented once things had calmed down. "The Lyonnais should have kicked the ball out.
"That's why I so mad with Wiltord. This goal upset me a lot more than the fact I've never beaten Lyon, either with Saint-Etienne, Bastia, Real Soiciedad or Rosenborg."
Lyon Coach Gérard Houllier was having none of it, though, and insisted his team were innocent.
"I can understand [Rosenborg's] disappointment, but at the same time the player was getting up. When he saw we were going to score, he fell down again.
"The referee saw what happened. Their full-back messed up his pass, Wiltord took over and that's all there is to it."
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