The Olympian side had it bad against the refereeing corps on Tuesday, after the elimination of Olympique de Marseille in the third preliminary round of the Champions League.
The Olympique de Marseille season started on (very) bad foundations. If the Ciel et Blancs started their season in Ligue 1 with a success against Reims (2-1) on Saturday, OM have already said goodbye to the Champions League. Consequence of his elimination against Panathinaikos in the third preliminary round.
Six days after an inaugural defeat in Athens, the Phocaeans thought they had done the hardest part by overthrowing Pana after only 45 minutes (2-0), but a goal conceded in the last moments of added time meant extra time and then a a fatal penalty shootout for the Marseillais.
At the end of the meeting, Pablo Longoria accused the blow. “It’s a disappointment. We share the frustration of our supporters… It reminds us how cruel football is, it’s a disappointment today because it was one of the first goals of the season. We had that hope. Tonight we have nothing to reproach the attitude, the behavior of our players or the game produced in general. But it’s hard. It’s hard “, he breathed in comments relayed by RMC Sport.
If he is as usual remained measured, the Marseille president nevertheless pointed the finger at the arbitration of Mr Oliver. The fault in the penalty awarded to Pana in additional time for a handball by Matteo Guendouzi following the intervention of the VAR. And this only moments after a contentious situation in the Greek surface when the former Gunner was the victim of a stroller. “We suffered some borderline decisions, which we do not share. I don’t know if you saw Matteo’s penalty…”, he thus cursed. And his trainer, Marcelino, was on the same line. “We are joined on a very cruel, very questionable penalty. For me what is inexplicable is the last action, a simple clash between two players, and a minute after a penalty which is whistled, for me it does not make sense.indeed lamented the Spanish technician.
