For the past two weeks, journalists from La Provence have been forbidden to ask questions to the players and coaches of Olympique de Marseille during press conferences. The Union of Sports Journalists in France (UJSF) and the National Journalists Union (SNJ) strongly oppose this decision, which they believe goes against the freedom of information.
Is the press being muzzled? It’s a question worth asking. For two weeks, the newspaper La Provence has been excluded from press conferences of Olympique de Marseille. Following the lead of the Union of Sports Journalists in France (UJSF), the National Journalists Union (SNJ) has taken action.
The conflict between the media and the football club began two weeks ago. “When we raised our hand, the OM’s communication director ignored us,” explains Alexandre Jacquin, head of the media’s sports department, who witnessed these events on several occasions. In bewilderment, the La Provence editorial team was informed by OM officials that their journalists could no longer ask questions related to the sporting aspect during press conferences of the men’s professional team.
These incidents occurred after an article was published on March 12, 2026, titled “OM: its role, its strategy, behind the scenes of its two years at the club… our investigation into Benatia’s method.” Journalists highlighted the very divisive operation of the football director.
On the other hand, OM had somewhat contentious relations with the media. The club issued a statement on January 25th to clarify: “Olympique de Marseille does not practice boycott or censorship towards the media,” but “reserves the right to take appropriate action in response to unfounded attacks that harm its image or that of its employees.”
The situation observed at La Provence was reported to UJSF, which immediately responded. “If an article does not align with the club’s direction, is the media boycotted? This goes against the freedom of information,” protested Gérard Poncié, president of the Provence section of UJSF. “If an article is disagreeable, is that how it is? We are in a democracy,” added the official.
The association denounces OM’s attempt “to sort the press according to their own interests, which the Union of Sports Journalists in France cannot endorse.” Its president, Vincent Duluc, expressed his dissatisfaction in a statement dated March 26:
“As we feared, an additional step has just been taken since La Provence journalists were informed in recent days that they would no longer be given the floor at press conferences. […] Unhappy with articles recently published, OM has put its unacceptable threats into action. This intolerable decision cannot be accepted by UJSF.”
“These methods recall a dark era at OM, that of Josué Anigo,” commented Mathieu Grégoire, the correspondent from L’Équipe in Marseille, while others like Bernard Lions, also a journalist at L’Équipe, invite other media outlets to support La Provence and boycott OM press conferences.
Vincent Duluc recalls that a precedent exists since March 6, 2023, confirmed on February 15, 2024, for this type of situation. On that date, the Bayonne court condemned Biarritz Olympique to pay €5,000 in damages and compensation to UJSF and instructed the club, among other things, to prohibit any journalist boycott.
“If necessary, UJSF will take legal action to enforce this precedent,” concludes Vincent Duluc. “This could happen to any media outlet. We simply defend the freedom of information, to work,” adds Gérard Poncié, “the ball is in OM’s court.” La Provence journalists will be present at the next press conference, scheduled before the Monaco match on April 5, hoping for a resolution with the Marseille club.
Contacted on Sunday, March 29, 2026, Olympique de Marseille chose not to comment on the matter.
