OM know their referee for the Champions League match against Newcastle, Tuesday November 25 at the Vélodrome, on the 5th day of the league phase. After a single victory on the second day and two consecutive losses, the Marseille club will try to return to success.
UEFA appointed Maurizio Mariani to lead the match. The Italian referee, already present during PSG-Bayern on November 4, will be surrounded by a 100% transalpine team: Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni as assistants, Matteo Marchetti as fourth referee, and Marco Di Bello and Aleandro Di Paolo on VAR.
This is not the first time that Mariani has crossed paths with Olympique de Marseille. In September 2023, he officiated during OM’s trip to Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League. The Marseille club won a spectacular draw (3-3), notably thanks to a double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Mariani, history of controversies
Recently, the referee was at the heart of a controversy in Serie A. During the Naples-Inter Milan match on October 25, he awarded a controversial penalty in favor of Naples, first not whistled then designated on the advice of his linesman, without consulting the VAR. The decision was heavily criticized by the boss of Italian referees, leading to Mariani’s demotion to Serie B the following weekend, to referee Virtus Entella-Empoli.
He had already caused controversy last February during the Monaco-Benfica play-offs, with several questionable decisions, including the expulsion of Monegasque Moatasem al-Musrati for a second yellow card considered severe. OM now knows what to expect.
