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Late Atalanta Winner After Contested Non‑Penalty Leaves Marseille’s Champions League Bid in Peril

UEFA officials say they cannot overturn on‑field decisions.

Overview

  • At the Vélodrome, Lazar Samardzic struck in the final moments to give Atalanta a 1-0 win over Marseille in the Champions League.
  • The referee, Sanchez Martinez, did not award a late penalty for a handball by an Atalanta player and did not conduct an on‑field VAR review before play continued.
  • After the final whistle, OM president Pablo Longoria and sporting director Medhi Benatia confronted a UEFA delegate, who reiterated he could not interfere with refereeing decisions.
  • Benatia denounced the officials as "arrogant" and called the episode a "theft," while Marseille mayor Benoît Payan also condemned the decision, including in posts on X.
  • With three defeats in four group matches, OM’s qualification hopes are in jeopardy and they are described as needing victories in the remaining fixtures, including against Newcastle on November 25.