On the motorway bridges of Marseille, the banners demanding the departure of the president of OM, Jacques-Henri Eyraud, have become rarer in recent days. A temporary extinction that should not be misinterpreted. If the slogans are less visible, the hatred of Marseille supporters for the one who has piloted their club for four and a half years is reaching its peak.
It is doped by a week of chaos which saw the invasion of the training center of La Commanderie, the resentful dismissal of trainer André Villas-Boas, however resigned, then a happy draw in Lens (2- 2) Wednesday February 3. All with a high risk classico on the horizon, scheduled for Sunday at 9 p.m., against a vengeful Paris-Saint-Germain.
The explosion of violence on Saturday, January 30, where about fifty supporters forced the gates, threatened players and caused significant damage to the headquarters of OM, above all tipped over on the legal ground a tension that all Marseille saw swell. “The cops are trying to find out who was behind the incidents. We are going to shave the walls ”, slips a former of the South turn, by canceling the appointment made with The world. A few days earlier, the same regretted on social networks the lack of enthusiasm of his comrades in the protest. ” We do not speak. It’s the omerta ”, drops a member of a North Turn association.
Measured regrets
Among the ultras, those who still dare to give their point of view demand anonymity. And it is through a joint press release, a rare event, that all the associations officially present at the Stade-Vélodrome – South Winners, Commando Ultra 84, Fanatics, Marseille Trop Puissant, Friends of OM, Dodgers, i.e. nearly 25 000 members – made known its position, Wednesday 3 February. Measured regrets for the violence committed – “Our action would have been even stronger without them”, the groups write – and a total determination to see the hated president step down. “This fight will continue as long as we have not obtained the departure of Mr. Eyraud”, they warn.
“The presidency of the OM is at total war with the groups and intends to use the incidents of La Commanderie to the full”, warns Alain Baduel, historical lawyer of Commando Ultra 84 (CU84), the oldest of the Marseille groups. Until the dissolution mentioned by the prefect of police Frédérique Camilleri? ” It would be the worst solution ” we temper at the Olympique de Marseille.
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