“We are truly in the madhouse,” laments Gervais Martel, excluded from the race for the presidency of the Professional Football League

The former president of RC Lens did not obtain sponsorship from the Union of Football Actors (UAF) on Friday.

The fight for the presidency of the Professional Football League (LFP) is taking a new turn. The Union of Football Actors (UAF) has not given its sponsorship to Gervais Martel, who is nevertheless a candidate to succeed Vincent Labrune. A decision that the native of Pas-de-Calais regrets for its opacity and the royal road it offers to a second term for the current president, almost without opposition.

Radio France: Can you confirm to me that you have not received the sponsorships?

Gervais Martel: I did not receive the sponsorships from the administrative union, I have it at the level of the presidents. We are really among the madmen.

There was nothing to prevent us from giving four or five sponsorships because there were four or five serious candidates and from holding a democratic election with the general assembly, which takes place on September 10. Instead, we went for crazy stuff with the administrative union, which appoints someone who was not retained by the professional union of presidents yesterday (Alain Guerrini, Editor’s note).

What could explain the absence of these sponsorships?

I think there was an agreement before and that it was settled like clockwork, between good friends. The fact that Alain Guerrini did not manage to get the sponsorship of the club presidents, that called everything into question. Today, all we had to do was show common sense. We have to elect three people, but nothing prevents us from having more candidates than the three, but hey, that’s French football.

Have you received any explanations from the UAF?

No, I received some from Foot Unis through its president Louis Nicollin who told me that the administrative union was doing what it wanted. I didn’t call them, I find it lamentable, but it may unfortunately be due to the state of our football.

Do you think there is a way towards a new election or, in any case, to appeal to politicians to unblock things and have a real democratic election?

I am calling on the club presidents to see what solutions can be found. I am not making this a matter for Gervais Martel, president of the League, but I am making it a personal matter because it is once again a total denial of democracy.

Comments collected by Radio France.