Disappointed by the results of Olympique de Marseille as well as by the management of the club's management team, hundreds of angry supporters demonstrated in front of the Commanderie training center.
Clashes took place and individuals tried to break into the center.
Several hundred angry Olympique de Marseille supporters carried out a coup on Saturday early afternoon at the Commanderie, the club's training center, in which a few even managed to enter briefly, noted AFP journalists.
In front of the entrance to the Commanderie, in a quiet area of Marseille, supporters expressed their anger by throwing smoke and firecrackers.
Three cypress trees growing in front of the central gate were charred in the incidents, during which at least two arrests took place.
Around 4 p.m., calm had returned.
MARSEILLE - Strong tensions around the Commanderie where hundreds of angry OM supporters are calling for the resignation of club leaders, including President Jacques-Henri Eyraud (La Provence).
pic.twitter.com/yz9LXQbXbX
- The Globe (@LeGlobe_info) January 30, 2021
"Give us back OM"
Many banners of opposition to the leadership of OM, and in particular to its president Jacques-Henri Eyraud, had already been deployed in Marseille, a few hours from the Ligue 1 match against Rennes.
For several weeks, protest operations have been organized by supporters before home matches.
This Saturday, the deployment of banners was particularly massive with dozens of messages appearing all over the city and widely repeated on social networks.
"Follow AVB, break you all", "The Parisians, break", "Give us back OM", "The Olympians hate you" or "Direction, c'est la fin", could we read on these banners installed on motorway bridges, roundabouts or as far as the Corniche overlooking the Mediterranean.
Things are heating up at La #Commanderie!
Several groups sprayed the entrance to the training center with smoke and fireworks.
They try to get inside the enclosure (Credit: Cédric Monné) # OM # TeamOMpic.twitter.com / jasL2Ef6ch
- La Provence (@laprovence) January 30, 2021
Several of these messages directly target President Eyraud, very unpopular among OM supporters, particularly upset against him after an intervention in a conference on management during which he had mentioned the "danger" of having too many Marseillais or OM supporters within the club.
"JHE: No Marseillais at OM? Get out of here", could we read on a banner displayed above a fast lane, and "JHE, Marseille vomit te" on another installed roundabout du Prado, a few meters from the Vélodrome stadium.
OM are currently only sixth in Ligue 1 after three consecutive defeats in the league.