The end of the round of 16 of the Coupe de France between Marseille and Lille (1-1, 3-4 in the tabs) took place under high tension on January 14. Mehdi Benatia, the OM Football director, received a red card from Clément Turpin after vehemently criticizing the fourth referee that a penalty was not whistled in favor of the Marseillais at 0-1.
The OM leader was moved in a long tirade after the final whistle. “What I have just experienced is serious,” he said. We score, I go to see the fourth referee to tell him that there was a penalty. In passing, I remove my coach who is arguing with Olivier Létang. Clément Turpin arrives from 50 m away, the fourth referee says to me: “You pointed at me and threatened me (…). » Why don’t I have the right to speak and defend my team? »
Olivier Létang, the president of Lille, came down from the stand and quickly grabbed the arm of the fourth referee, at the edge of the pitch, to tell him that added time had expired.
The cases of Benatia and Letang, who were not present, were examined by the FFF disciplinary committee this Thursday. According to information from L’Équipe and RMC, the two leaders were suspended as a precautionary measure.
-Automatically suspended for one match, Mehdi Benatia could be more heavily sanctioned. He is in fact under a reprieve after a first suspension this season (6 matches including 3 closed) after having attacked the referee Benoît Bastien who had expelled Leonardo Balerdi during Lyon – OM (2-3 ), on September 22.
Olivier Létang, the president of Losc, is also suspended as a precautionary measure. His suspension could prohibit him from representing his club in bodies, such as the board of directors of the League where he sits.
Benatia and Letang should be heard and know their final sanction next week.
