Neither team was satisfied on Saturday evening at the Stade Vélodrome, after the 1-1 draw between OM and Losc. Especially by Marseille coming back to score in the last moments of the game (diakité equalizer in the 87the), after having played most of the match in the lead (Merlin opened the score from the 17the minute).
Roberto De Zerbi, the Phocéens coach, quickly pointed the finger at the refereeing of Willy Delajod, criticizing him for three phases of play in particular: two potential penalties not whistled for alleged fouls on Hojbjerg and Rowe – an obstruction on Balerdi just before the Lille equalization. Bruno Genesio, his northern counterpart, regretted two actions: a possible foul on Haraldsson in the area and a Marseille offside whistle when the Mastiffs had an opportunity to counter.
No obvious error according to the DTA
This Monday, the technical direction of arbitration (DTA) of the French Football Federation (FFF), to put an end to the disputes, provided a debrief to come to the aid of its representative, validating at least two decisions of Mr. Delajod, without commenting on the other cases mentioned. As for the potential clash between Hojbjerg and Haraldsson within 16 meters of OM: “ The images clearly show that the Marseille player plays the ball and clearly touches it first, with a controlled gesture in the single direction of the ball. It is then that the Lille player touches the ball and hits his opponent’s leg. There is therefore no infringement », Judges the DTA.
As for the fact of play which triggered the ire of the Olympians – the clash between Gudmundsson and Hojbjerg in the Lille area – the DTA considers that Mr. Delajod and his assessors also made the right decision: “ The Marseille player first has a clear opportunity to head the ball and it is later that contact with the Lille player occurs. By maintaining his movement path, the defender naturally tries to position himself in the trajectory of the ball. The intervention of the Lille player can therefore be considered as not being a fault within the meaning of the Laws of the Game. »
