- The three-year "naming" contract between Groupama and OL, which is estimated at between 5 and 7 million euros annually for the Décines premises, is coming to an end.
- In an interview for La Tribune , the general manager of Groupama Rhône-Alpes Auvergne François Thomine does not spare the world of professional football.
- If he says he does not want to give up this partnership, he announces that he will "not spend an extra euro".
It is rare to come across an interview as lunar as that granted by Francis Thomine, managing director of Groupama Rhône-Alpes Auvergne, to the La Tribune site . From the first question around the “naming” since July 2017 of the OL stadium, the Groupama Stadium therefore, football is presented as “an activity in many respects amoral”, between “indecent remuneration of players”, “hooliganism ", And" homophobic and racist slogans ".
What lay the foundations for surprising responses from Francis Thomine, which should not fail to make Jean-Michel Aulas react. "International professional football carries such a business that inevitably, indecent excesses occur," he explains first. Besides, I am always surprised that this audience of supporters, often very modest, is silent in front of the incredible inflation of players' salaries. "
We are celebrating the 4⃣ years of Groupama Stadium today 🎂
This is an opportunity to greet the 3 best scorers in the history of our stadium @LacazetteAlex, @Memphis and @NabilFekir 😍🙌 pic.twitter.com/ekxF6sJwCU
"OL will be free to end our partnership"
The CEO of Groupama Rhône-Alpes Auvergne, also a member of the OL management committee, then points out "confusing or even shameful behavior among certain players, many of whom are no more than mercenaries under the thumb of greedy agents". Does this observation indicate that Groupama could abandon the project to renew the stadium's three-year “naming” contract, the annual amount of which is estimated between 5 and 7 million euros?
"Giving up this partnership is absolutely not our intention," he says. However, we will not be ready for anything and everything to achieve it. ". Francis Thomine announces that he has planned an envelope for negotiation, which is non-negotiable: “I will not spend an extra euro. Jean-Michel Aulas, its managing director and its board of directors will be free to end our partnership if they prefer an offer supposed to be much more financially efficient. Here is another soap opera open at OL.
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- Economy
- OL
- Naming
- Lyon
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- Soccer
- Groupama