The hidden loyalties of football commentators and the push for neutrality | OneFootball

French football commentators keep their club loyalties private, unlike consultants whose careers reveal theirs. L'Équipe reports that neutrality remains the industry line.

A small number are open, including Sébastien Dupuis with Toulouse and Jean-Louis Tourre with PSG. At Canal+, Grégory Nowak favours strict discretion, typified by Thierry Gilardi’s unknown allegiance. Lyon-born Grégoire Margotton rejects any OL tag, later declaring affection for Liverpool after leaving Premier League duty.

Paul Tchoukriel, who grew up in Lyon and passed through OL’s pre-academy, says he is detached today. After leading PSG’s Champions League coverage last season, he is often labelled Paris-leaning, which he takes as proof he matched the moment.

Dupuis remains devoted to Toulouse yet says he separates fandom from work, bringing emotion to any team. Ligue 1+ chief Jérôme Cazadieu deems him non-partisan and avoids hiring diehard fans, particularly of PSG, OM or OL.

On RMC, Tourre admits affection for Paris while insisting on objectivity. He revelled in OM’s 3-2 over Lyon and the 2-1 win against Newcastle, and believes listeners could not guess his club.

Smaïl Bouabdellah supports Racing in National 3 and says he would declare that even in Ligue 1. He argues commentators do not decide games, ignores social media and shrugs off bias claims at grounds, saying on the mic he backs whoever scores. Broadcasters also chase balance, with Ligue 1+ criticised for a Marseille-heavy OM-OL cast of Benoît Cheyrou, Souleymane Diawara and Adil Rami, a point Cazadieu accepts while stressing pluralism.

Source: L'Équipe