the essential
Defeated in Brest on Saturday January 11 (2-1), the Olympique Lyonnais players had a complicated weekend on and off the field. A publication in the sports magazine, associating the defeat of OL with the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, exacerbated tensions. A message poorly received by supporters and club management alike.
“Between the defeat at Brest and the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, it’s a bad week for OL.” It is with these words that the magazine So Foot summarized, in a tweet, the match lost by Olympique Lyonnais against Stade Brestois (2-1), Saturday January 11. Known for its humorous tone, the media this time sparked a lively controversy.
A virulent reaction from the club
Laurent Prud’homme, general director of Olympique Lyonnais, and Floriant Deligia, OL communications director were quick to react. Questioned by outraged fans, he promised a strong response to what he describes as a “shameful tweet”. “Count on us to react firmly to this kind of message,” he said.
Count on us to react firmly to this shameful tweet
— Laurent Prud’homme (@LaurentPrudhom) https://twitter.com/LaurentPrudhom/status/1878159318131867802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Florent Deligia, OL communications director, also spoke to denounce a “ridiculous” and “ignorant” message. “Sincerely, So Footwith some basic knowledge of the history of Lyon and its political life, or of the memory of OL, you would avoid writing such nonsense and making a fool of yourself”, he castigated. The humorous spring of tweet is based on a supposed proximity between certain groups of OL supporters and the French far-right, a shortcut which greatly displeased.
Sincerely @sofoot with some basic knowledge of the history of Lyon and its political life, or the memory of OL, you would avoid writing nonsense like this and making a fool of yourself pic.twitter.com/FGJAnYDNcD
— Florent Deligia (@FlorentDeligia) https://twitter.com/FlorentDeligia/status/1878160236768268630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
A deleted tweet, but persistent tensions
Faced with the wave of criticism, So Foot ultimately removed the tweet, without issuing an official statement or apology. The episode continues to spark debate, between those who denounce a lack of respect for the history and values of the club, and those who defend freedom of expression and the second degree.
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On a sporting level, this controversy adds to an already complicated period for OL. With only one victory in the last three Ligue 1 matches, the club is struggling to find its rhythm and is seeing its competitors get ahead. A tense situation, which So Foot’s clumsy communication did nothing to help.
Why a link between OL and the far right?
The controversy has its origins in recent events. Among them, the presence of small far-right groups, such as “Mezza Lyon”, which gravitate around certain Lyon supporters.
This small group made itself known through provocative actions, such as the tribute to Mussolini or the deployment of a banner “Refugees not welcome” above a Lyon quay. Furthermore, in October 2023, during a match between OL and OM at the Marseille Vélodrome, Lyon supporters were filmed performing Nazi salutes and racist gestures, incidents widely publicized.
Also read:
Ligue 1: “Jean-Ma, Jean-Ma, Jean-Marie Le Pen!” Supporters sing a song in tribute to the former leader of the National Front
However, these behaviors do not represent all Lyon supporters. The Bad Gones ultra group, the core of support for the club, has also distanced itself from these small extremist groups. Using a humorous tone, So Foot revives these controversies, reinforcing the idea of a proximity between certain supporters and far-right ideologies, to the great dismay of fans and club management.
