According to information from RMC Sport, OM wrote to UEFA to express their dissatisfaction after the appointment of Istvan Kovacs for the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League at Villarreal on Thursday (6:45 p.m.).
It’s a decision that doesn’t work for the Marseillais. While the Romanian Istvan Kovács was appointed to referee OM’s return match against Villarreal this Thursday (6:45 p.m.), OM wrote to UEFA to express its dissatisfaction following this designation, according to our information. Marseille already regretted certain decisions during the two-way confrontation against Panathinaikos last August and had written to the European body after the elimination in the third preliminary round of the Champions League.
A lack of respect
In this context, and despite the 4-0 in favor of the Olympians in the first leg, the choice of referee for Villarreal-OM is seen by the Olympian club as a real lack of delicacy, even of respect.
Istvan Kovacs’ only experience with Marseille had gone badly in Athens, since the Phocaeans, like Azzedine Ounahi, were upset against certain decisions. “There are mistakes made by Panathinaikos that he doesn’t whistle for… And as soon as we touch the opponent, he whistles straight away,” the Moroccan confided after the 1-0 loss in the first leg. Geoffrey Kondogbia was sent off in the 65th minute.
At 39, the Romanian has experience at European level, having managed 21 Champions League and 19 Europa League matches.