Referees body backs no-penalty call for Gouiri vs OM-PSG

The refereeing authorities have delivered their verdict on the flashpoint of OM-PSG, the top of the French calendar that PSG won 2-1 in Ligue 1’s fifth round. As reported by RMC Sport, the review focused on the contact inside the box involving Amine Gouiri, after strong penalty appeals were raised in the first half (38th minute).

Backing Letexier’s call

According to the elements published this Tuesday by the refereeing department, François Letexier was right to not award a penalty. The reasoning points to Désiré Doué getting his leg in and touching the ball as part of the attacking movement, meaning the definitive contact did not, on its own, make the action illegal.

In the communiqué relayed by RMC Sport via the FFF, the refereeing body explains that with his right leg forward against the Marseille striker, whose forward imbalance was already underway, the PSG player manages to deflect the ball. They also add that the contact cannot be considered illicit on its own, so the decision not to grant a penalty was the expected one.

The review is also linked to VAR checking: while the arbitration team did verify, the authorities concluded the central referee did not need to re-check further images. The article further mentions audio from the VAR process—“the ball is played, check completed”—and argues that seeing the PSG player touch the ball prevented the sanction.

Less public complaint

Alongside the controversy, the report notes that neither OM’s players nor coach Bruno Genesio openly criticised the referee, despite the uproar seen around the incident. It also recalls that Letexier did show two yellow cards (described as logical) to Marseille captain Timothy Weah.

For extra context, the same authority also referenced another match from the weekend: Monaco-Lens (2-1), where it’s said Clément Turpin missed a penalty for Lens.

Source: RMC Sport.