Medhi Benatia’s Bold Commitment to Referee Accountability

During an appearance on After Foot on RMC this Tuesday evening, Medhi Benatia acknowledged that he needs to step back from discussing refereeing. This comes after he faced a significant suspension last season due to an incident in the Coupe de France against Lille. Following a controversial moment during the OM-Toulouse (2-2) match, the sporting director of Marseille stated his intention to minimize public comments. Defending his decision to share a photo of the contentious moment without further commentary, Benatia remarked, “I no longer feel the need to express myself on refereeing. I think I have paid enough. I know it doesn’t help.” He noted that refereeing issues are not limited to Ligue 1 and shared his exchange with referee Wattellier: “There was a foul there, why didn’t you blow the whistle?” to which he added, “Well, if you think everything is fine, then you’re the boss.”

In response to criticisms from Daniel Riolo, Benatia emphasized his emotional involvement, clarifying that his comments are not necessarily tied to his team’s results: “The first time I spoke about a referee was in Lyon when we won with ten men.” He also admitted that OM occasionally benefits from referee errors, like during the match against Havre, but explained that he cannot stop the game to contest decisions. While Benatia plans to speak less, he acknowledged the challenge: “I don’t feel good if I don’t express my dissatisfaction with errors; it doesn’t feel like me. I want to say what I think. I expect nothing; they will continue to referee as they see fit.” This statement leaves uncertainty about his future behavior.