Marseille complain to UEFA claiming a lack of consistency in Michael Oliver’s officiating after they suffered an agonising Champions League elimination against Panathinaikos

Marseille have filed a complaint with UEFA over the quality of their performance in their Champions League qualifying defeat to Panathinaikos.

Having entered the league’s qualifying rounds thanks to a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, Marseille faced the Super League side for a place in the Champions League play-offs.

However, Les Olympiens’ European campaign would get off to a poor start in Greece as Geoffrey Kondogbia was cautioned in the very first minute before being sent off for a second yellow card after the interval.

To add insult to injury, former Everton star Bernard would score a late winner for the hosts, forcing Macelino’s side to overcome the deficit at the Stade Velodrome to keep their qualifying ambitions alive.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would score twice in the second leg on Tuesday, with the club having to cancel a further two goals due to offside during the game.

The Ligue 1 side took offense at what they saw as a lack of consistency from referee Michael Oliver

Oliver awarded a last-minute penalty to Panathinaikos after VAR ruled that Matteo Guendouzi handled the ball in the penalty area

But again the Greek side struck late. Fotis Ioannidis scored a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time after Matteo Guendouzi was assessed by VAR for handling the ball in the penalty area, sending the game to extra time and penalties.

Guendouzi stepped up to take first in the ensuing shootout, missing his side’s opening penalty to give the visitors the advantage, while Panathinaikos scored all five from the spot to throw Marseille out of the competition.

According to a report by L’EquipeMarseille took offense at a number of decisions by Michael Oliver and the all-English team of officials during the second leg.

Oliver was joined in the team on duty by Stuart Cook and Daniel Oliver as assistant referees, Andrew Madley as fourth official and Stuart Attwell on VAR duties with Peter Bankes as his assistant.

They added that the referee had shown no uniformity in his decision making, claiming that VAR had been used to award a penalty to the visitors at the last minute, but not when a similar offense had been committed in the other penalty area.