Midfielder Joey Barton was sent off for the first time in his Marseille career during a 1-0 defeat by Nancy on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Englishman, on loan at the top-flight French club from QPR, picked up two yellow cards in five second-half minutes with the game 0-0.
“I am disappointed,” said Barton, who has been sent off seven times in total. “I am partly responsible for this loss.
“I apologise to my team-mates. The referee made his decisions, but I don’t think my tackles were too dangerous.”
Nancy’s win lifted them off the bottom of Ligue 1 as they dealt a blow to Marseille’s title ambitions.
Marseille coach Elie Baup believes the seventh sending off of Barton’s career was a turning point in the game, although he did not feel it was a deserved red card.
“The game turned with the expulsion of Barton,” said Baup.
“We had not been brilliant in the game, but there was no real danger [before the red card]. Being down to 10 men made things more difficult.”
He added: “His first card was unjustified since there was no foul, and on the second he was committed to trying to get the ball.
“We waited a long time and wondered when Barton would be sent off for the first time, and that was done tonight [Sunday]. But he did not deserve to be sent off.”
Barton’s dismissals
4 Feb 2004: Tottenham 3-4 Man City
26 Feb 2006: Liverpool 1-0 Man City
23 Dec 2006: Man City 0-2 Bolton
3 May 2009: Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle
2 Jan 2012: QPR 1-2 Norwich
13 May 2012: Man City 3-2 QPR
3 Feb 2013: Marseille 0-1 Nancy
Source: BBC Sport
