Olympique Marseille‘s tie with Rennes was called off consequent to the handiworks of Marseille’s furious fans setting the club’s training facilities ablaze.
The rationale behind the ugly incident was due to the club’s woeful display in the French league, with Marseille sitting in the sixth position, having been in a title race in November.
The French side has lost the last five games, as their former player, Morgan Sanson seals a deal with Aston Villa for £14m. The angry fans were demanding that the club’s President Jacques-Henri Eyraud should be shown the exit door.
“Given the incidents that occurred this afternoon at the Olympique de Marseille training center, the OM – Stade Rennais FC match (22nd matchday in Ligue 1 Uber Eats) has been postponed to a later date.” in a statement by Ligue 1 on the postponement of Marseille fixture with Rennes today.
Fans were also in fury with Eyraud because he does not want the club’s staff to support the French side.
The club chief said that majority of staff at the club are from Marseille, which can be risky because the businesses at the club were facing some challenges.
“When I arrived, I was struck by the fact that 99% of people working at the club were from Marseille. I think that this is a danger, a risk.” Eyraud said on a virtual dialogue with newsmen
“Why do I say that? Because I was there for several months and we were on a run of two consecutive defeats. I saw in the business just how grey the faces were.” He said, giving reason
“People were close to depression. In terms of productivity, the impact that a defeat had on the attitudes, behaviours, daily was strong. And that, that was not on.” he added
“The English, the Americans, who usually are better able to distance themselves from that, say that when you are an employee at a football club, the first thing that you have to be careful of not doing is to bring in, and I am citing, a “fan in a suit,” because it will be someone who will be drawn to talking about having a passion for the club, for his team, rather than looking at the plan defined together,” he explained
