OM: A great referee stands behind Longoria

The controversy surrounding the penalty not whistled for Olympique de Marseille against Strasbourg (1-1) continues to make a lot of noise. At a time when managers and supporters are rebelling against arbitration decisions deemed unfavorable, a renowned former referee has spoken out in defense of the Marseille club. An unexpected statement which adds weight to the demands of Pablo Longoria and Mehdi Benatia.

“For me, there is a fault and a penalty”

This great referee, Bruno Derrien, ruled in favor of OM. In an analysis published in La Provence, he clearly stated that the contact between Guéla Doué and Jonathan Rowe deserved sanction. “For me, there is a foul and a penalty,”

he said, pointing out that the action was obvious enough to be reported without even requiring VAR intervention.

Derrien also pointed out the overall management of this situation, recalling that such an oversight can have a major impact on the result of a match, especially in such a tense context. His position gives a new dimension to the speech of Olympian leaders, who denounce an accumulation of injustices since the start of the season.

An accumulation which exasperates OM

For Pablo Longoria, this forgotten penalty against Strasbourg is only the latest episode in a series of contested decisions: expulsions, penalties not called, and errors recognized a posteriori by the refereeing management. The Marseille president, very vocal on the subject, believes that his club is systematically wronged and has promised to no longer let these errors slide.

Mehdi Benatia, OM sports director, shares this frustration. According to him, these decisions not only cost points, but also positive dynamics for the team. An analysis reinforced by the words of Bruno Derrien, who underlines the need for better use of VAR to avoid this type of injustice.

Welcome help, but insufficient?

While OM is struggling to regain the podium in Ligue 1, the support of a refereeing figure like Bruno Derrien could strengthen their position. But will this recognition be enough to reverse the trend during future meetings? In Marseille, we hope that these positions will put pressure on the authorities, but we know that only the field can really change the situation.