Marseille Chief Longoria Retracts Corruption Claims Amid Backlash

Marseille president Pablo Longoria faces punishment for his outburst against the referee after Marseille's defeat to Auxerre in Ligue 1.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria has expressed regret over his comments suggesting that his club was a victim of “corruption” following a 3-0 Ligue 1 loss to Auxerre. The 38-year-old Spaniard had launched a scathing attack on the referee after Saturday's match, shouting “this is real corruption” in response to what he and other Marseille officials felt was unfair treatment towards their team.

In a contrite tone, Longoria told AFP in an interview, “It wasn't appropriate and that word, yes, I regret it.” He explained that he had not fully understood the implications of the word “corruption” in French, as it has a broader meaning in Spanish. “Everyone explained to me what it (corruption) meant in French... Mind you, that doesn't justify anything. But I've never in my life thought of anything like money exchanges or financial transactions, never.”

Longoria sought to clarify his comments, emphasizing that he did not intend to suggest that there was any financial impropriety involved. “I'd like to say that there's no corruption in French football. But that there are things that aren't clear and that need to be improved, for everyone, yes.” Marseille's loss to Auxerre was marked by controversy, including a disputed penalty claim and the sending-off of Canadian defender Derek Cornelius. The defeat was a setback for Marseille, who are currently second in Ligue 1.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria's outburst against the referee after the 3-0 loss to Auxerre was not an isolated incident. Fabrizio Ravanelli, the Italian former Marseille striker and current advisor to the club, also labeled the decisions “scandalous.” However, their comments have been met with strong criticism from French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo, who stated, “To question the integrity of our officials is defamatory, unacceptable and reprehensible.”

🔹Pablo Longoria à l’AFP : « Je ne peux pas accepter de donner ce type d'image, un président de club ne peut pas se comporter comme ça, rien ne justifie la forme. Le mot corruption a un sens plus large en espagnol. Ça ne justifie rien, mais je n'ai jamais pensé à quelque chose… pic.twitter.com/s0MUsPr3Ry

— Guillaume Tarpi (@GuillaumeTarpi) February 24, 2025

The controversy surrounding the match has taken a darker turn, with reports emerging that referee Jeremy Stinat's home was intruded upon and his cars vandalized. Marseille had already expressed dissatisfaction with Stinat's appointment, given his role as the fourth official in their French Cup defeat by Lille last month. The incident led to sporting director Medhi Benatia receiving a three-month suspension. Longoria now faces similar punishment and has been summoned to appear before the French league's disciplinary committee on Wednesday.

Longoria has taken responsibility for his actions, acknowledging that his behavior was unacceptable. “I have to take responsibility for what I've done,” he said. “I'm always very self-critical and I can't accept that kind of image. A president can't behave like that. Nothing justifies it and I'm not happy with myself.” He also provided context for his outburst, explaining, “Even if nothing justifies it, you have to understand how this anger arises. My first responsibility is to defend my club. There have been many refereeing decisions this season in which I feel OM have been put at a disadvantage.”