Benatia Suspended After Heated Clash With Referee

Rabat – Marseille football director Medhi Benatia has been suspended for engaging in a fiery exchange with an assistant referee at the end of his team’s Coupe de France game against Lille.

The match, held on January 14, ended in heartbreak for Marseille, who lost on penalty shootouts after a 1-1 draw. But the real drama unfolded off the pitch.

Benatia was sent off by referee Clément Turpin after a furious outburst at the fourth official. He was livid that Marseille didn’t get a penalty on a tight decision late in the match. Attendees say the former Moroccan international was “violent” in his protest, leaving Turpin no choice but to show him the red card.

The French Football Federation (FFF) disciplinary committee handed Benatia a precautionary suspension.

This is not the first time that the former Atlas Lions has been on the receiving end of a disciplinary punishment for an off field outburst.

Benatia already had a suspended sentence hanging over him from an earlier incident in September, when he clashed with referees during a Ligue 1 match against Lyon.

The FFF sees the incidents as serious and is expected to impose tougher sanctions soon.

Benatia could face harsh penalties due to his track record. Back in September, he got a six-match ban (three of them suspended) for attacking officials during another heated game.

Earlier this month, OM appointed Medhi Benatia as their new sporting director. The former OM defender stepped into the role after serving as a sports advisor since November 2023.

In a press release, OM said Benatia was key for their ambitious plans and had played a major part in shaping their long-term project. He worked closely with club president Pablo Longoria, especially during last summer’s transfer window.

Benatia now oversees both the first team and the youth academy.

The 36-year-old worked with Longoria last summer to rebuild the squad, signing big names including Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Neal Maupay, and Adrien Rabiot. OM also appointed Roberto De Zerbi as head coach after a successful season in the English Premier League with Brighton.

Benatia has strong ties with Marseille. He climbed up the ranks at OM’s academy before playing for Europe heavyweights including Bayern Munich, Juventus, and AS Roma. He retired in 2021 and became a players’ agent.

Medhi Benatia last played for Morocco in June 2019 during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group-stage game against Namibia. Morocco won the game 1–0.

He captained the Moroccan national team for much of his international career and retired from international football after earning 66 caps and scoring 2 goals for the Atlas Lions.