Caught in turmoil since the exit of Medhi Benatia, who accuses him of “sometimes borderline behavior”, Jonathan Clauss has found support.
That of the UNFP (National Union of Professional Footballers), which published an unequivocal press release on its website.
With words rarely used in the very polite world of press releases, that of the union is striking in the tone used.
The UNFP brings out the heavy artillery towards Medhi Benatia, Pablo Longoria's sports advisor at OM and his bulldozing outing towards Jonathan Clauss before the defeat (1-0) of OM in Brest, which cost his place coach to Gennaro Gattuso.
⛔ By basely attacking one of the club's employees, international defender @Djoninho25, OM sports advisor Medhi Benatia crossed the red line.
That of harassment, which consists of delivering a footballer to popular vindictiveness via the press, to divert… pic.twitter.com/damKsB7crQ
— UNFP (@UNFP) February 19, 2024
" Ashamed !
Disgusting !
» writes the UNFP, which defends the OM player, nailed “to the pillory”.
“In addition to lacking a minimum of respect towards the man, we are calling into question the professional conscience of a player who would even be capable of simulating an injury,” denounces the professional players' union.
Medhi Benatia takes it for her rank.
“To all those who wondered what purpose a sports advisor to the presidency could serve in a club like OM, Medhi Benatia has just responded in the most interesting way by basely attacking one of the club's employees , a player, an international, guilty of all evils.”
“Medhi and Pablo are on a boat, and it’s OM that falls into the water”
According to the UNFP, Jonathan Clauss is paying a high price for remaining at OM when the club's finances needed a little breathing room.
The UNFP also speaks of harassment towards Clauss: “Again and always harassment, which consists of delivering a footballer to popular vindictiveness via the press, of deflecting all evils onto him.
This harassment that the UNFP denounces until filing a complaint against X last month, and which the clubs nevertheless abuse, including now outside official transfer periods.
»
Visibly upset, the authors of the press release end with a daring formula: "At the rate at which things and OM's finances are going, and while Gennaro Gattuso left the boat drunk this Monday, it is not forbidden to think that we will attack, individually or collectively, all the employees of the Marseille club, all of whom are guilty.
Why not also Pablo Longoria?
Medhi and Pablo are on a boat, and it’s OM who falls into the water…”