One France player didn't get an Olympic medal after brutal Thierry Henry decision

One France footballer did not get an Olympic medal due to a little-known rule implemented by FIFA.

On home soil, France reached the final of the Olympic football tournament under the guidance of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

But they lost out on the gold medal after Spain won 5-3 in a dramatic game which went to extra time.

Les Bleus had to settle for silver and new Bayern Munich signing Michael Olise quickly removed his runners up medal from his neck.

But one of his teammates did not even receive a medal at all, with Theo de Percin stepping onto the podium alongside his teammates but without anything to show for it.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Auxerre, was named in the tournament squad.

He was in as a standby member in the event of any injuries, with France selecting four players for the role.

Image: Getty

Yet he was the only one who did not make a single appearance - either on the pitch or the substitutes' bench - and it ended up costing him big time.

As per The Mirror, the rules state that in order to bag a medal, the player must be named as a sub - and so De Percin was denied one.

Article 30.1 of the Olympic Football Tournament regulation states: "Should an alternate player replace a player and appear on the start list, said alternate player will also obtain a medal should their team finish first, second or third in the Tournaments, in addition to the replaced player."

Image: Getty

Monaco's Chrislain Matsima, Lens' Andy Diouf and Johann Lepenant of Lyon all featured in the final group stage game against New Zealand after top spot was secured.

Obed Nkambadio and Guillaume Restes were France's keepers for the tournament, leaving De Percin out in the cold.

Spain gave out all 22 medals and third-choice 'keeper Alejandro Iturbe got his hands on one.