Viewed by RMC Sport, a video with a wide shot of the tunnel and the two sidelines provides a very factual look at the tensions which took place during added time of the Coupe de France match OM-Lille.
The images are clear. On a video viewed by RMC Sport, At that moment, the president of Losc Olivier Létang is positioned a few meters behind the fourth referee Jérémy Stinat at the moment when Luis Henrique is preparing to shoot and equalize. Létang has his cell phone in his left hand. He will also explain this Wednesday morning that he always starts his stopwatch to follow the evolution of added time. Medhi Benatia, with his black hat, hands in his pockets, is on the other side, just at the entrance to the tunnel behind Roberto De Zerbi. Everyone is focused on the action in progress.
Marseille equalizes. Excitement in the stands and in front of the OM bench. Létang immediately had the reflex to advance towards Jérémy Stinat to grab his right arm, show him his cell phone and reproach him eye to eye for the fact that Clément Turpin had gone beyond the five minutes of added time . Medhi Benatia and Roberto De Zerbi are jubilant and celebrate the Marseille goal.
Olivier Létang turns around, spreads his arms in a sign of annoyance and incomprehension, dropping a few words towards two club employees, before returning to attack to get annoyed with the fourth referee. He points to the lawn. Jérémy Stinat lowers Olivier Létang's arm. The discussion is virile and the president of Lille points several times, with his index finger, at the fourth referee.
Létang's reproaches, Benatia's red
Throughout this muscular exchange, Roberto De Zerbi does not take his eyes off Olivier Létang, just like Medhi Benatia, who seems to want to mark his trainer very closely. De Zerbi steps back, tries to understand what Olivier Létang says to the fourth referee, who approaches the latter once again. RDZ then attacks the Lille president. The exchange lasts only two or three seconds, before three members of the Marseille staff and Medhi Benatia take Roberto De Zerbi away from the northern leader, who for his part continues to stare at the Italian coach while he walks away. Létang's reproaches towards the fourth referee, then a delegate, lasted a little less than a minute.
While Roberto De Zerbi has moved away, Medhi Benatia waits to speak to the fourth official and points the finger at him twice. The exchange lasts barely five seconds. Benatia will then explain that he wanted to tell the fourth referee that there had been a forgotten penalty on Jonathan Rowe and that he absolutely had to tell Clément Turpin. At this moment, Jérémy Stinat takes a step back and seems to speak into his microphone, probably to Clément Turpin, who instantly sends him a red card, which Medhi Benatia does not understand.
“Me? Me? But why?”, says the OM football director, who is moved by it to Clément Turpin, from afar, then to several members of his staff. Benatia once again approaches the fourth referee, asking him for explanations. He mimes the pointing index finger gesture and seems to explain that he felt threatened, that he informed the match referee, hence the red card.
Létang: “Medhi does not deserve this red card”
Barely a meter behind, Olivier Létang watches the scene and remains a spectator. The manager told RMC Sport this morning that he was very surprised by the red card sent to Benatia. According to Létang, the equalizer came when added time was over by 25 seconds. He explains that he did not see the scene of the red card for Benatia, which he would have learned about later. And confided this Wednesday morning that, according to him, “Medhi does not deserve this red card”.
After this expulsion, Benatia prepares to leave the pitch but says one last word to Roberto De Zerbi. Probably regarding the upcoming penalty shootout. A few exchanges then follow where Benatia explains his version of the facts to those around him, before returning to the stands.
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