Players' strike, bonuses scrapped: Alain Griezmann's management sparks controversy at Mâcon

Mâcon 71 players launched a training strike this week to contest several decisions by their president Alain Griezmann, father of former French international Antoine Griezmann. The Burgundy club, competing in National 2, confirmed the incident in a statement sent to its partners.

According to journalist Romain Molina, who broke the story, the main source of tension is the elimination of match bonuses. Under the new system put in place, players could win a match without receiving a bonus if their performance is deemed insufficient — an evaluation that would be carried out directly by Alain Griezmann. This measure reportedly deeply angered the squad.

Added to this is a change in schedules: training sessions, which were held in the morning, were reportedly moved to the evening. Combined, these two decisions reportedly precipitated the breakdown between players and management.

In its statement, Mâcon 71 acknowledges that players refused to train on Tuesday, citing a dispute with management over schedules. The club claims, however, that training resumed on Wednesday and that the situation is now resolved.

Romain Molina, however, tempers this display of calm, indicating that Alain Griezmann’s management has been causing difficulties within the club for several years. The affair places the father of the former France striker under unusual scrutiny for a fourth-division club.