Marseille escaped a moment of real danger in Troyes before turning the night into a vital 2-0 away win, a result that lifted OM out of the relegation zone and delivered only their second league victory of the season.
The decisive controversy arrived early. In the 12th minute, after Troyes goalkeeper Patrick Beach had punched away a Marseille effort, Himad Abdelli tried to attack the loose ball inside the home penalty area. His raised foot struck Troyes midfielder Iron Gomis in the face instead.
Referee Mr Paradis chose not to show a card, limiting his response to a verbal warning for Abdelli. VAR did not ask him to review the incident, allowing Marseille to continue with 11 players in a match that could have taken a very different course.
Red-card debate after the final whistle
The decision was heavily discussed after the match, with former Marseille defender Adil Rami arguing that Abdelli had been fortunate to remain on the pitch.
“I genuinely thought the referee was going to produce a red card,” Rami said. “Following the usual interpretation from referees around the world, whether he saw it or not, the foot is high, he catches the face, and for me that is a red card.”
Rami accepted that the official may have used discretion to avoid transforming the contest so early, but maintained his view. “There is also the referee’s common sense, avoiding killing the game with a red card, but for me it is a sending-off.”
Abdelli finishes the job
Untroubled by the disciplinary call, Abdelli completed the entire match for Bruno Genesio’s side. He then added a late penalty to seal Marseille’s 2-0 success and put the result beyond Troyes.
For OM, the escape from trouble was as important as the three points. A night that might have begun with an early dismissal ended with Marseille clear of the bottom three.
