Pope Diouf's journey “embodies a democratic ideal”

Coronavirus: Pape Diouf, former president of OM, died - 20 Minutes

• In Marseille and everywhere in France, tributes are multiplying after the death of Pape Diouf, swept away by the coronavirus pandemic.
• For sociologist Ludovic Lestrelin, Pape Diouf embodies, through his family and professional career, a "democratic ideal belonging to the imagination of the left. "

Pape Diouf is dead and Marseille is on the ground. The leader who had helped bring OM to the top - without reaping the fruits of his labor - died on Tuesday at the age of 68, swept away by the coronavirus.

The sociologist Ludovic Lestrelin agreed to analyze, hotly, the death of Pape Diouf. He is the author of The Other Audience of Football Matches - Sociology of "distance supporters" of Olympique de Marseille *.

Why is Pape Diouf so loved by Marseille supporters?

For 20 years, club news has often been eventful. Both sporting and behind the scenes, with many internal struggles for influence. The period of his presidency between 2005 and 2009 is more peaceful, with a good, even very good, relationship with the supporters. It embodies this special period that people today remember with nostalgia.

Why ?

He is often presented as one of the three greatest presidents in the history of the club with Bernard Tapie (1986-94) and Marcel Leclerc (1965-72). In my opinion, he is on the podium. Already on a sporting level, the period of his presidency, even if there is no title, is a beautiful period.

Fuck ...
Blame him for what you want but he succeeded at OM. He is the only president to have succeeded in this club, sportingly and financially, since Tapie. The only. Without forgetting, before that, a wonderful life course, very Marseille. Goodbye, Pope and thank you. pic.twitter.com/INHsFaFbQd

Thanks to his great knowledge of football, he managed to bring in Eric Gerets then Didier Deschamps and players who proved themselves at OM (Souleymane Diawara, Mamadou Niang or Samir Nasri), with whom he had strong relationships. He is one of the great architects of the 2010 title, even though he was no longer at the club at that time.

He also took OM to the Coupe de France final twice and the team participated several times in the Champions League, despite limited financial means. On the sporting side, it's very positive.

He also knew how to "flirt" with OM supporters?

He seduced them. Not only in the direction of handling. He is a skillful speaker and has a sense of formula. At the time, OL dominated French football. He knows how to play on this antagonism, like that with PSG and poses as an ardent defender of the club and the city.

The episode of the little ones, in 2006, is a blow of brilliance. Getting a 0-0 at the Park [with the reserve team, then in CFA], in order to oppose the governing bodies of French football, is a milestone. 2008 was a key year in its relationship with supporters. The MTP bus was the victim of an accident on the road to Le Havre. He was on the front line and supported this group of supporters and all supporters. He was not pretending.

Is this comparable to his support for Santos Mirasierra, this supporter who was sentenced to prison for pushing a Spanish policeman during clashes between Marseillais and supporters of Atlético Madrid?

There too, he takes sides. He is the promoter of an offensive defense of OM. He reinstalls the club at the top of French football, so that he is seen as a true supporter of the club. He is almost part of the family.

Rest in peace Pape Diouf. #OM #AJamaisOlympien 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/JT9cDEU05a

He was born in Chad, he is Senegalese and arrives in Marseille at 18 years old. It therefore embodies what I call self-representation by others, the celebration of the identity of the city by strangers. Declaring your love for the club and for a city with a bad reputation is a very important symbol.

He had arrived in Marseilles penniless, was not much before becoming a journalist for La Marseillaise [a daily close to the PCF]. Then he became a player's agent, president and especially the first black president of OM. This course contributes to the appeal that OM has in France, beyond Marseille.

It says the opening of the city, as if Marseille were the city of all possibilities, that you could find your place there even when you left with little. This city reached out to Pape Diouf, clearly embodying this sort of democratic ideal belonging to the imagination of the left. This family and professional journey explains the love that the Marseillais and OM supporters have for him.

* The other audience of football matches - Sociology of “distance supporters” of Olympique de Marseille, published in 2010 by EHESS editions.

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• Marseille
• Covid 19
• Coronavirus
• Sport
• OM
• Senegal