Former Bayern player Mehdi Benatia has been suspended for three games for his harsh criticism of the referee at Olympique Marseille’s last away game.
The disciplinary commission of the French Football League Association LFP has responded to Mehdi Benatia’s comments during Olympique Marseille’s away game at Olympique Lyon. The 37-year-old, who works as an advisor at OM, was suspended by the association on Wednesday for three games. The former Bayern Munich professional is therefore suspended “from the dugout, the referee’s changing room and all official functions”.
Benatia had been incensed during the half-time break in the match between Marseille on matchday 5, which ended with a 3-2 away win for OM, currently in third place, at OL, and shouted at the referee in the dressing room: “Start respecting us! Don’t think these people are stupid!”
After the game, Benatia, who wore the Bayern Munich shirt from 2014 to 2018 after playing for several Italian teams, said in front of the DAZN microphone: “There are too many things that I cannot let go, that the club president cannot let go.”
OM complains of disproportion
Marseille said in a statement that it “deeply disagrees with this decision” and complained of “completely disproportionate” treatment of Benatia. It is not known whether the club will appeal against the arbitration decision.
