A controversial non-call in the 90th minute of Atalanta‘s 1-0 victory over Olympique de Marseille is drawing scrutiny, with a former international referee stating a penalty should have been awarded to OM for a handball. The decision by referee Sánchez Martínez to allow play to continue, even with VAR available, has sparked debate and frustration among Marseille supporters.
The incident, involving a handball by Atalanta’s Emerson, occurred during a crucial moment in the match, ultimately deciding the outcome. Samardzic scored the game’s only goal, but the focus post-match has centered on the missed penalty opportunity.Speaking on L’Équipe Channel, saïd Ennjimi explained the reasoning behind why he would have signaled a penalty.
“He could have whistled the penalty,” Ennjimi said. “The movement of the body must remain natural so as not to whistle. The referee considered that the movement of the player’s arms was not intended to increase the surface area of his body to stop the ball, but that it was a natural consequence.”
ennjimi also pointed to another potential penalty situation during a Höjbjerg strike, noting, “with an Atalanta player (Honest ahanor) who has his arm rather stuck to his body this time, but makes the movement to bring his shoulder forward. We could also have called a penalty.”
The article was originally published on November 6, 2025, at 07:28 and updated at 09:17. The non-call leaves OM facing questions about their Champions League prospects and highlights the ongoing debate surrounding handball interpretations in football.
