Marseilles blame referee as slump gathers pace

They are 20th in the table on two points, their worst position since they returned to the French élite in 1996. The Corsicans netted a penalty three minutes from time to earn a 1-1 draw at the Stade Velodrome.

An angry Marseilles coach, Jean Fernandez, blamed the referee for denying his side three points, saying the official had made a "huge mistake" in allowing Rafik Saifi to convert from the spot.

"The referee failed to pay attention and was not focused on what was going on on the field. He made a blatant mistake," Fernandez said. "He took two points away from us, two points that we highly deserved."

The home side were lacking inspiration until a close-range header by striker Christian Gimenez broke the deadlock on the hour.

Paris St-Germain midfielder Jerome Rothen is almost certain to miss France's next two World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and the Republic of Ireland after limping off with a thigh injury in PSG's 2-1 defeat by Nice in Paris on Saturday.