It appears that the response from Olympique de Marseille (OM) to Pape Diouf’s book was published as a full-page ad in L’Equipe, a French sports newspaper. The ad was a reaction to Diouf’s recently published biography, “It’s much more than a game,” in which he shares his perspective on his time at OM. The response from OM accuses Diouf of presenting a distorted perception of events, amnesia, paranoia, and megalomania.
Vincent Labrune, the president of Marseille, claimed that the ad was part of a commercial exchange and did not involve any payment. The purpose of the response was to generate buzz, and Labrune stated that they did not tap into any crisis budgets for the advertisement.
The editorial director of L’Equipe, Fabrice Jouhaud, clarified that as long as statements are not defamatory, filthy, or insulting, the editorial team does not object to free expression. He also mentioned that the reported amounts for the ad were not accurate and that the reality was different.
The response from OM emphasizes Diouf’s departure from the club, citing reasons such as an inflated payroll and the inability to retain coach Eric Gerets during the 2008-2009 season.
The situation has sparked debates about the nature of the exchange and the motivations behind such a response.
