MARSEILLE’S DIMITRI PAYET RISKS FIVE-GAME SUSPENSION FOR SLAP

L’Équipe are reporting that Olympique de Marseille forward Dimitri Payet (36) risks receiving a five-game ban for his slap on RC Lens coach Yannick Cahuzac.

Payet, who later came off the bench to score in Marseille’s 2-1 defeat against Lens on Saturday, was involved in an altercation earlier in the game when Facundo Medina sent a ball towards the Marseille bench. The former French international wasn’t punished at the time, but Cahuzac and member of the Marseille staff were both sent off in the incident.

However, footage shared by Amazon Prime Video revealed the true nature of the altercation with Payet slapping Cahuzac. That action went unpunished by referee Clement Turpin, but ultimately, the former West Ham United forward is unlikely to go unpunished.

According to L’Équipe, Payet is likely to receive a four/five game suspension, which would potentially rule him out until the end of the season. Les Phocéens have just four games remaining in the current campaign. In a similar altercation back in 2018, Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper Anthony Lopes received a five-game ban.