Soccer-Rennes denied late Europa League equaliser due to little-known rule

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Europa League - Group F - Maccabi Haifa v Stade Rennes - Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary - November 30, 2023 Stade Rennes coach Julien Stephan REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo

(Reuters) - Rennes manager Julien Stephan said he had ridden an "emotional elevator" after his side had a dramatic late equaliser chalked off in Thursday's Europa League match against Villarreal due to one of football's little-known rules.

Enzo le Fee's free kick in the 11th minute of stoppage time stuck the woodwork and rebounded back to the midfielder, who put the ball back into the box before Lorenz Assignon slammed into the net.