Was the referee of the OM-Atalanta match, Mr. José Maria Sanchez Martinez, right not to whistle a penalty for Marseille?
“I have a good memory. (…) The rules are different in Madrid from those in Marseille. » Roberto De Zerbi had it really bad after the defeat conceded by OM against Atalanta Bergamo (0-1), Wednesday evening at the Vélodrome. The third in four Champions League matches for the Marseillais since the start of the season. And we can easily understand it.
The Italian coach could not digest that the referee, Mr. José Maria Sanchez Martinez, could not have whistled a penalty for a blatant handball from Ederson in the area, a few seconds before Lazar Samardzic’s goal (90e), while a similar action – a hand from Facundo Medina while tackling Vinicius Jr – was penalized during the match against Real Madrid (1-2).
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The Spanish whistle, which did not even consult the VAR on this controversial action, was not justified after the meeting. He will probably not have to do this, because he will always be able to take refuge behind the IFAB (International Football Association Board) regulations on the matter for the 2025-2026 financial year. A law of the game which, upon seeing the images, may seem absurd.
The very vague regulations of the IFAB
This text first says that “any contact between the ball and a player’s arm or hand does not necessarily constitute an infraction”. And specifies that“It is a foul if a player deliberately touches the ball with his arm or hand, for example by moving his arm or hand towards the ball.” But the regulation does not stop there, which makes it much more vague.
“It is a foul if a player touches the ball with his arm or hand having artificially increased the surface covered by his body. A player is considered to have artificially increased the area covered by his body when the position of his arm or hand is not a consequence of the movement of his body in that specific situation or is not justifiable by such movement. »
And to continue: “By having his arm or hand in such a position, the player takes the risk of touching the ball with these parts of the body and thus being sanctioned. »
Was Ederson’s arm in a natural position, continuing the movement of his body following his failed check? In a case like this, there will always be several interpretations. And VAR will never decide.
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