A revealing insight into the legal dispute between footballer Chancel Mbemba and Olympique Marseille, detailing claims of moral harassment and attempts to force a transfer.
Chancel Mbemba, the 31-year-old footballer, recently returned to the pitch, making his debut for Lille OSC in a match against Toulouse following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season. His last appearance for his former club, Marseille, was on May 19, 2024, in a game against Le Havre, where he notably wore the captain`s armband.
However, the situation drastically shifted just a few months later. Marseille initiated a significant squad overhaul, leading to Mbemba being asked to leave the club before his contract expired in 2025. He was effectively sidelined from the first team, relegated to the so-called “loft,” in what appeared to be an attempt to compel his departure.
Mbemba expressed profound dissatisfaction with this treatment. He was involved in public disagreements with Ali Zarrak and encountered other conflicts with Marseille`s management. At one point, his wages were withheld for three weeks, although this decision was subsequently overturned by the league`s legal committee.
Despite the intense pressure, Mbemba remained at the club but was excluded from first-team training, tactical sessions, and matchday squads. He only rejoined general training sessions for legal compliance reasons. Midway through the season, he was again urged to seek an exit, with interest surfacing from Stade Rennais, Montpellier HSC, and clubs in Saudi Arabia, yet Mbemba declined all these approaches.
Several months ago, the central defender escalated the matter by filing an official complaint with the Marseille public prosecutor`s office against his former club and its president, Pablo Longoria. Mbemba accused Marseille of moral harassment due to his exclusion. Furthermore, it is alleged that the club attempted to impose a foreign intermediary on him to facilitate a transfer.
Information suggests that evidence, including audio recordings, was provided as part of the complaint. The current status of the investigation remains undisclosed. Representatives from the Marseille public prosecutor`s office neither confirmed nor denied the reports, the club declined to issue a comment, and the player`s lawyers did not respond to inquiries.
