Chidozie Awaziem was involved in one of the most bizarre scenes in French football this season after his Nantes teammate was sent off by the Referee – wait for it – for tripping the Referee.

Awaziem stepped in to plead on behalf of his defensive mate Diego Carlos, but referee Tony Chapron wasn’t having any of it.

While media reports have made it seem the Brazilian defender “accidentally” tripped the match official, video replays suggests otherwise.

Surreal moment in Nantes 0-1 PSG tonight – referee Tony Chapron takes a tumble & then lashes out at the player in question! (Via @philousports) pic.twitter.com/S1ux5o26Qq

— Get French Football (@GFFN) January 14, 2018

Incredibly, as he was flattened on the ground, referee Chapron had struck a leg out and kicked at the defender… before handing the player who was on a yellow another booking booking.

The Ligue Un match between Nantes and PSG ended with the Parisien club picking all three points with a 1-0 courtesy a 12th minute Di Maria goal.