For the American Frank McCourt, the degradation of the training center of the Olympique de Marseille (OM) by some supporters, Saturday, January 30, can be compared to … the invasion of the Capitol, in Washington, “Stormed” by supporters of Donald Trump. The businessman and owner of the club dared to draw a parallel in a press release on Sunday morning.
In short, these incidents reflect the urgency of restoring dialogue between leaders and supporters, the latter criticizing the former, here, for a more commercial than sporting vision.
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Basile Boli to play the intermediaries?
According to the radio station Europe 1, the Olympian staff would consider using the former defender Basile Boli to play the intermediaries. However, in its organization chart, OM already has a supporter referent – a SLO, to use the English acronym of “Supporters liaison officer”, introduced in 2010 by UEFA, the European football body.
In France, this position has been made compulsory for all clubs in the championship since a 2016 law, aimed at ” [renforcer] dialogue with supporters and the fight against hooliganism ”.
Contacted, the Marseille club did not respond to our request to be put in touch with the holder of the function. Elsewhere in Ligue 1, in less complicated contexts, the measure has already produced effects ” very positive ”, often likely to “Appease” relations, according to Pierre Barthélemy, lawyer for the National Association of Supporters.
Set up mediation
The system cannot of course prevent “Structural tensions”, even “Ideological”, fits Me Bartholomew. But these interlocutors appointed by the clubs at least have the merit of setting up mediation. “There is nothing worse for a supporter than asking a question without receiving an answer or an explanation, says Arnaud Szymanski, “SLO” of the Racing Club de Strasbourg. As a referent, I must stay tuned. “
Full-time employee for three seasons, reporting to the operations manager in the administrative department, this 39-year-old former salesman first started as “Freelance”, during matches.
In this period of closed health, Mr. Szymanski finds himself in ” Partial unemployment “. The Covid-19 has “Upset” its activity, until then focused on preparing for matches, at home or away. Normally, the agenda fills up quickly: meetings with the prefecture, discussions with the Racing management, logistics coordination with the supporters’ associations.
Four out of ten referees from the stands
Like this former head of the “Ultra Boys 90”, the main collective of the Meinau stadium, 40% of “SLO” in France come from the world of stands. In other cases (18%), the club entrusts this role to ex-directors or ex-members of security. Even ex-players (5%).
These figures come from a fact-finding mission presented in May 2020 to the National Assembly. “Initially fragile, the status of referent supporters has been consolidated because they fulfill an essential mission”, write the parliamentarians Sacha Houlié (LRM) and Marie-George Buffet (PCF).
For the current season, according to the data transmitted by the Professional Football League (LFP), the referees are paid in “90%” of the twenty Ligue 1 teams and in “75%” those in Ligue 2.
Employees often “underpaid”
“It does not mean” necessarily that they are not paid “Only for this mission”, specifies the League. “The clubs have not yet taken the full measure of the work, very nerve-racking, of the referents”, consider Me Bartholomew. Without indicating an amount, the lawyer often estimates these employees ” underpaid “ in relation to their importance.
Asked by The world, Sacha Houlié suggests, to avoid a possible situation of overhang, that“A body like the LFP” or the French Football Federation take care of their salaries, rather than the clubs. Negative response from the League.
On the other hand, this one reflects on the possibility of“Extend to a greater number of stages” experimenting with “Referent police officer”. A “Major breakthrough” for ” go faster ”In the exchanges, according to Arnaud Szymanski, who tested and approved it in Strasbourg before the pandemic.