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Doha – The French Football Federation (FFF) has handed Olympique Marseille’s Director of Football, Mehdi Benatia, a severe three-month suspension, sparking controversy and claims of unfair treatment.
The sanction, which includes an additional three-month suspended sentence, follows an incident during the French Cup round of 16 match between OM and Lille on January 14.
According to reports, Benatia, the former Moroccan international defender, approached fourth official Jérémy Stinat in the closing moments of the match to discuss what he believed was an overlooked penalty for OM.
Despite Benatia’s insistence that his gesture was non-threatening, with his finger pointing toward the penalty area, referee Clément Turpin issued a direct red card following communication with Stinat.
“I went to see the fourth official to tell him there was a penalty,” Benatia explained after the match. “He claims I threatened him with my finger. What I’m experiencing is serious. Find the footage, please. And there was a penalty on Jonathan Rowe. Why don’t I have the right to speak and defend my team?”
The severity of the punishment appears to be influenced by Benatia’s previous disciplinary record. Just four months earlier, he received a six-match ban (three suspended) for his conduct during the Olympico match between Lyon and OM.
During that incident, he confronted referee Benoît Bastien at halftime, demanding: “Start respecting us! Don’t take people for fools!”
No threatening behavior
The club has responded forcefully to the FFF’s decision, releasing an official statement expressing their “stupefaction” at the sanction.
OM highlighted that video evidence clearly showed no threatening behavior, a fact reportedly confirmed by the FFF’s chief delegate who was present during the incident.
“The club once again regrets the inconsistency and persecution targeting its Director of Football,” the statement read, announcing their intention to appeal the decision and, if necessary, take the matter to the relevant administrative courts.
Benatia took to Instagram earlier today to express his profound disappointment. “I feel a total incomprehension. I have always carried football with passion and respect, and I have always defended the values that make this sport great. Football must remain a space of sincere commitment, where everyone can express themselves without fear,” he wrote.
“You know my passion for OM and my determination is therefore stronger than ever. We know, here in Marseille, what it means to fight, hold on and move forward. I will continue to defend, with you and for you, our mindset and our values.”
Benatia’s lawyer, Mathias Chichportich, spoke out strongly against the ruling in the “Rothen s’enflamme” program. “Behind the director and former player, there is a man who is today in a situation where there is anger, stupefaction, an immense sense of injustice and persecution,” Chichportic fumed.
“In my 15 years of practice, appearing before almost every jurisdiction in France, I have never seen a decision this unbalanced and disproportionate,” he stated. “Professional sport’s values are founded on the principle of equality.”
Read also: ‘Benatia is a Great Player and a Great Defender’: Cristiano Ronaldo
The lawyer particularly criticized the hearing process, describing it as “expeditive” and suggesting the outcome seemed predetermined.
He emphasized that while the referee claimed to feel threatened, video evidence shows Benatia’s finger was merely pointing toward the penalty area.
The controversy is amplified by the comparatively lighter punishment given to Lille president Olivier Létang, who received a one-month suspension plus one month suspended for similar incidents during the same match.
According to FFF’s disciplinary scale, Benatia’s actions were classified as “intimidating/threatening behavior,” which can carry sanctions of up to 14 matches or 5 months suspension, rather than “excessive/inappropriate behavior,” which typically results in a two-match ban.
As the situation develops, both Benatia and OM have confirmed their intention to appeal the decision, vowing to take the case to administrative courts if necessary.
