Racing-Metro coach Pierre Berbizier has re-ignited his feud with referee Christophe Berdos ahead of the club's match with La Rochelle on Saturday

Berdos fell off Berbizier's Christmas card list when, as a touch judge in the Parisians' Top 14 quarter-final at Clermont, his intervention saw lock Santiago Dellappe sent to the sinbin at a crucial point in the match. Racing were leading 17-15 at the time and went on to lose 21-17 to the eventual champions

Berbizier also claims that Berdos awarded a Clermont penalty kick even though the ball appeared to pass the wrong side of the posts.

"I don't think Monsieur Berdos will ever referee Racing again. I don't know what we did to him, but all his decisions this year have been very, very severe," Berbizier said after the Clermont match.

Former France coach and 56-cap scrum-half Berbizier hasn't got his wish, as international whistler Berdos has been allocated the Stade Colombes game this weekend. And Pierre isn't happy.

"I have no pleasure in finding this person on the pitch. I see it as a provocation," said Berbizier.

"They could have avoided this problem, it does bothers me a little but we will deal with it. [The La Rochelle officials] are always on to the referee. I don't want to believe that if there is the slightest offence it will automatically be punished, but he can't help himself.

"I have had no contact with this person and I do not want to have any. As much as I respect the office he represents, I do not want to have contact with him, that is clear.

"I find the whole situation a little provocative, but saying that will probably flatter his ego."

Berbizier was hauled in front of the league's disciplinary board for his comments and for an equally personal attack on league president Pierre-Yves Revol in August but escaped punishment. He may not be so lucky this time and if you ask us has wasted a good rant on a match that his team should win comfortably anyway.

La Rochelle coach Serge Milhas is no stranger to clashes with officials himself. After his club's narrow defeat to Toulon he let rip at referee Herve Dubes.

"For two months in the Top 14 we have been refereed by Pro D2 refs. Today's game was refereed by an amateur.

"I appreciate how my remarks sound but today was a scandal, it was shameful. Today they have robbed the people of La Rochelle. Whenever [Dubes] refereed us in Pro D2 we lost, and we always had to complain about his refereeing."