The Marseille prosecutor’s office has received a complaint against The preliminary investigation, opened on September 24 for attempted extortion, blackmail and threats under conditions of crime or misdemeanor, continues in this form, specified the public prosecutor of Marseille Dominique Laurens.
On September 18, while OM was having a difficult start to the season, a very stormy meeting brought together the main leaders of the club and those of the major supporters’ associations, particularly influential in Marseille. This meeting took place at the Commanderie, the team’s training center.
“A relationship based on intimidation”
Supporter leaders then demanded the resignation of Pablo Longoria, the club’s Spanish president, as well as those of three other members of the board present at this meeting: football director Javier Ribalta, general manager Pedro Iriondo, both Spaniards, and financial director Stéphane Tessier. They also spoke of “worrying abuses” within the club, particularly around the training center.
Pablo Longoria and his colleagues denounced the attitude of their interlocutors in a press release the next day, saying they could not “tolerate individual attacks and any form of unfounded public defamation”. They also denounced “a relationship based on intimidation”.
The club’s coach, the Spaniard Marcelino, then resigned. Mr. Longoria, after briefly “stepping back”, finally announced his decision to remain at the head of the club, while calling for the disappearance of a “system” based on “fear”. He had also announced his intention to file a complaint, which was therefore done. Leaders of support groups denied to AFP any death threat or request for resignation from Marcelino.