Samir El Mourabet: his red card validated by the FFF

The Refereeing Department of the French Football Federation has confirmed the validity of the red card received by Samir El Mourabet during Strasbourg’s heavy defeat against Olympique de Marseille (4-0). In its review of the first day of Ligue 1, published on Tuesday, the body stated that the expulsion of the Moroccan international midfielder was in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

The incident occurred in the 56th minute. After passing the ball to a teammate, El Mourabet, pressured by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, made a gesture towards the calf of the Marseille player. The referee did not see the scene live, but the video assistance recommended that he review the footage, leading to the expulsion of the Strasbourg player moments later.

According to the Refereeing Department, El Mourabet was no longer in a position to contest the ball, and his gesture was therefore unrelated to the game. It was classified as an act of brutality. The FFF also reminds that “giving or attempting to give a kick constitutes an act of brutality,” whether or not the opponent is fully hit.

This official analysis thus puts an end to the debate over the validity of the decision, which had sparked several criticisms after the match. The disciplinary committee will now have to determine the length of the suspension imposed on the Moroccan player.