Despite six defeats in eight matches, OM pockets nearly €13 million from Europa League

Stuck in 32nd place in the Europa League after six defeats in eight matches, Olympique de Marseille is experiencing its worst start to a season in 47 years. Yet the European competition has already brought in nearly €13 million, according to data from specialist site Sportune.

This unexpected windfall comes at a crucial time for a club under DNCG supervision and facing the risk of a points deduction. Despite numerous summer sales — Greenwood, Aubameyang, Balerdi, Medina, Rulli — the financial situation remains precarious, to the point that OM signed no players during the summer transfer window.

Almost all of Marseille’s revenue comes from the UEFA “value pillar,” a mechanism that redistributes audiovisual rights based on clubs’ coefficient over five and ten years. This parameter alone generated €8.5 million for OM. To which is added the participation bonus common to all clubs involved, estimated at €4.31 million. On the other hand, the two Marseille defeats generated no result bonuses.

Among French clubs in the Europa League, Olympique Lyonnais is faring best. With two victories in two matches, OL has earned over €14 million: €4.31 million in fixed bonus, €900,000 in result bonuses (€450,000 per victory) and €9 million from the value pillar.

Stade Rennais, credited with one victory and one draw, received €600,000 in result bonuses and slightly exceeded €11.5 million in total.

For Marseille, these European revenues provide financial relief, but are insufficient to mask the sporting urgency: 13th in Ligue 1 and bottom of their European group, the club must imperatively turn things around to avoid a season of multiple crises.