Removed from sports management in the recent reorganization of Marseille, president Pablo Longoria intends to negotiate his departure from the club, according to L'Équipe. However, his position on the board of the French Professional Football League (LFP) could complicate the process. Despite a statement from Frank Mc Court, the club's owner, aimed at calming the internal crisis, the future of the Spaniard at the French club remains uncertain. Following the restructuring, the Spanish president saw his functions limited to a representative role in organizations such as the LFP and the European Club Association (ECA). This new reality does not please Longoria, who felt deeply affected by the way the decision was communicated, without being consulted or even warned in advance by Mc Court. With the sports area now under the exclusive control of football director Medhi Benatia, the 39-year-old executive believes that the only solution is his departure after nearly five years in the role, which he assumed in February 2021. The president is now awaiting the start of formal negotiations between his lawyer and the owner's representatives. However, the resolution does not seem simple. The main obstacle lies in the fact that Longoria's position on the LFP board is a personal and not an institutional role. Any potential departure of the Spaniard would mean that Marseille would lose its representation in this important body, as the position would be subject to a new election. The complexity increases because, to be eligible for the LFP board, one must have at least one full year of tenure as president or, exceptionally, as general director. Currently, no one in Marseille's structure meets this requirement to run in case of a vacancy. Not even Shéhérazade Semsar de Boisséson, vice-president of the supervisory board and shareholder emissary, who accompanied Longoria in the last meetings. For Frank Mc Court, the club's presence in the LFP is of paramount importance, which makes Longoria's position the main bargaining chip. Both parties express the desire to find 'a way out through the front door,' avoiding an open conflict that could further worsen the atmosphere at the club, which has only just begun to calm down.
Pablo Longoria Frank Mc Court remains central to this story.
Pablo Longoria Frank Mc Court remains central to this story.
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