FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - Group B - Portugal vs Morocco - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia - June 20, 2018 Morocco's Medhi Benatia applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
(Reuters) - Olympique de Marseille have said they strongly disagree with a three-match ban handed out to their sporting director Medhi Benatia, adding that the former Morocco international had not threatened or insulted any match officials.
According to reports in French media, Benatia confronted match officials during halftime in Marseille's 3-2 win over Olympique Lyonnais on Sept. 22 to complain about a red card shown to Leonardo Balerdi in the fifth minute.
