Marseille Coach De Zerbi Hit with Suspension After Heated Clash with Referee
Marseille, France – Olympique de Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi will be absent from the touchline for his team’s upcoming Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg after receiving a one-match suspension, with another suspended, from the professional Football League’s disciplinary committee. The sanction stems from a red card issued to de Zerbi during stoppage time of Monday’s stunning 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Vélodrome stadium.
The incident occurred in the 90th minute after De Zerbi vehemently protested a perceived foul by PSG‘s Achraf Hakimi on Marseille forward Robinio Vaz, believing it should have been called. Initially shown a yellow card by referee Jérôme Brisard, De Zerbi’s continued, impassioned protests led to a swift dismissal.
De Zerbi watched the remainder of the match from the stands, communicating instructions to his staff positioned below. Tho, the league’s disciplinary committee deemed his behavior worthy of punishment.
The suspension means De Zerbi will be barred from “bench,cloakroom of referees and all official functions” on Friday when Marseille travels to Strasbourg for their sixth league match of the season.
The disciplinary action underscores the league’s commitment to maintaining order and respect for officials, even amidst the intense atmosphere of a high-stakes rivalry like Le Classique. While De Zerbi’s passion is frequently enough lauded, this incident serves as a reminder of the boundaries expected of coaches on the sidelines.
Keywords: Roberto De Zerbi, Olympique de Marseille, PSG, Ligue 1, Suspension, Red Card, Football, Soccer, Disciplinary Committee, Strasbourg, Le Classique.
