Olympique de Marseille players have erupted in anger following their 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, directing their fury squarely at the match officials. The contentious Ligue 1 clash at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, March 31, 2024, was decided by a late penalty, a decision the Marseille squad has labeled “a scandal.”
The match was locked at 1-1 deep into stoppage time when a handball was called against Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi. After a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, referee Benoît Bastien pointed to the spot. Kylian Mbappé converted the 95th-minute penalty to secure a dramatic victory for the league leaders.
Marseille’s players and staff were incensed by the call. Goalkeeper Pau López was particularly vocal, stating to Prime Video, “It’s a disgrace. We work all week for this. To lose like that in the last minute… it’s a scandal for French football.” He emphasized that the ball hit Balerdi’s thigh first before possibly touching his arm, a detail he felt was ignored.
Defender Samuel Gigot echoed the sentiment, calling the penalty award “shameful.” He argued, “We cannot lose a match like that. It’s not a penalty. Leo plays the ball with his thigh, and it’s not intentional. We are disgusted.”
The frustration stems from a sense of injustice that overshadowed a resilient Marseille performance. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given the visitors an early lead in the 2nd minute, which was canceled out by a 52nd-minute equalizer from PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos. Marseille felt they had done enough to earn a point until the late controversy.
Coach Jean-Louis Gasset did not hold back in his post-match comments. “When you see the penalty given against us, you have to wonder,” he said. “We are told the arm must be in an unnatural position. His arm is against his body. What do you want him to do, cut it off?” Gasset confirmed the club would file an official complaint with the French football federation (FFF), stating, “We will send a letter to the FFF. This is not the first time. We have a folder full of incidents.”
This defeat is a significant blow to Marseille’s hopes of qualifying for European competition next season. The club now sits seventh in the table, with the players left to rue a decision they believe has cost them dearly.
