Strongly criticized after the OM – Lille match on Saturday (1-1), Willy Delajod was also the subject of threats on social networks. The Haut-Savoyard referee decided to file a complaint and received the support of FFF president Philippe Diallo.
This Monday, the Technical Directorate of Arbitration (DTA) communicated an analysis concerning two disputed non-whistled penalties. She also supported her referee, saying he made the right decisions.
The first contentious action was in favor of Lille after contact between Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg and Hakon Arnar Haraldsson in the 36th minute. “I think there could be a penalty,” said Bruno Genesio.
“The images show that the Marseille player plays the ball and clearly touches it first, with a controlled gesture in the single direction of the ball. It is then that the Lille player touches the ball and hits his opponent’s leg. There is therefore no infringement: the correct decision not to whistle a penalty was therefore taken by the referee,” explains the DTA.
Roberto De Zerbi was rather vehement. “I believe that the referee did not have a good match, that he never had it in hand,” said the Italian coach who estimated at a press conference that Lille defender Bafodé Diakité, author of the equalizing goal (87th), should have been excluded, that the Lille goal should have been refused and that a penalty should have been whistled on Jonathan Rowe at the end of the match.
But these situations were not analyzed by the DTA which, however, returned to the stroller of Gabriel Gudmundsson on Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg (80th).
“The Marseille player first has the full opportunity to head the ball and it is later that contact with the Lille player occurs. By maintaining his movement path, the defender naturally tries to position himself in the trajectory of the ball. The intervention of the Lille player can thus be considered as not being a fault within the meaning of the laws of the game. This is the reason why the intervention of video assistance in the refereeing, after analysis, does not was not expected as a manifest error,” explains the DTA.