Richard criticizes Longoria's financial management at OM: "a very significant accounting hole"

Stéphane Richard has openly criticized Pablo Longoria’s management at Olympique de Marseille, without ever mentioning his name. In an interview with La Provence, the new president of the Marseille club spoke of “a very significant accounting hole” that he has inherited since taking office earlier this month.

The former Orange CEO was officially appointed OM president in April by owner Frank McCourt, replacing Longoria. He arrives in a tense financial context: last Friday, the National Financial Control Authority (DNCG) announced restrictions on the club’s wage bill and transfer compensation.

“These decisions, which came to confirm what we already knew, are not pleasant. Especially since I am not accountable for a situation I have inherited,” Richard said. Without explicitly naming his predecessor, he continued: “I am not here to award certificates of good management, but I note that there is a very significant accounting hole. When you make decisions, there is always a risk of getting your strategy wrong and ending up with a financial imbalance. There was clearly a control problem.”

The 64-year-old went further in judging that the policy pursued before him “has shown its limits and led to the current situation.” He also sought to reassure Frank McCourt, whom he describes as an owner who deserves “to have a management he can trust because he has invested a lot in this club to which he is very attached.”

The DNCG sanctions now constrain OM in its recruitment and wage policy, complicating Stéphane Richard’s first weeks in office from the outset.