Marseille receive legal warning from French journalists’ union over ‘censorship’ concerns | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille have been formally warned by the Union des Journalistes de Sport en France (UJSF) after reportedly blocking journalists from La Provence from asking questions in press conferences, in a move the union has labelled “intolerable.”The dispute marks a significant escalation in the club’s increasingly strained relationship with sections of the media. In a strongly worded statement, UJSF president Vincent Duluc accused OM of effectively carrying out a boycott, despite the club’s previous claims to the contrary.Back on 25th January, OM published a statement defending their media strategy as based on “strategic choices” linked to context, coverage, and respect for the institution. Crucially, however, the club insisted at the time that it did not engage in “boycott” or “censorship.”In recent days, La Provence journalists have reportedly been informed that they are no longer permitted to ask questions during press conferences, cutting off direct access to players and coaching staff. The decision is understood to follow dissatisfaction within the club over recent coverage. For the UJSF, this crosses a clear line.More significantly, the union has invoked recent legal precedent. In a ruling issued on March 6, 2023, and upheld on appeal on February 15, 2024, a French court sanctioned Biarritz Olympique for similar practices, ordering the club to pay damages and explicitly prohibiting any refusal to answer journalists’ questions during official media duties.GFFN | George Boxall