McCourt's break with PSG fuels Richard's clash with Létang of LOSC
Olympique de Marseille, under president Stéphane Richard, is vying for a place on the European Football Clubs (EFC) board as the vacancy left by Pablo Longoria remains unfilled. The election, scheduled for Tuesday in Copenhagen, will decide who joins the council that represents roughly 850 professional clubs across Europe.
OM's European ambitions
Marseille wants to continue influencing European football governance, but the dominant position of Paris Saint‑Germain in the highest bodies could eclipse the club’s ambitions. The OM does not limit its strategy to on‑field performance alone.
The contest for the EFC seat
The seat on the EFC board has been vacant since Pablo Longoria departed the council after leaving the OM presidency in February 2026. Longoria, elected to the former European Club Association board in September 2023, vacated the role as he exited several football institutions.
Two French executives have declared their candidacy: Stéphane Richard and Olivier Létang. Both are competing for the seat that Longoria left, turning the election into a direct contest between the presidents of Olympique de Marseille and Lille OSC.
Richard brings a business background, having led the GSMA, the global mobile‑telephony association, and he highlights his commercial experience as a contrast to traditional football administrators. His profile is intended to showcase a different skill set for European governance.
Lille's Olivier Létang and OM's Stéphane Richard face off in Copenhagen for the EFC seat
Létang, representing LOSC, relies on a long‑standing network within European football and points to Lille’s recent standing as the second French club in the UEFA club coefficient ranking. He argues that his experience in the sport’s institutions equips him for the role.
The election will be held on Tuesday in Copenhagen, where the council of about 850 clubs will vote for Longoria’s successor. The outcome will determine which French club secures direct representation on a body that shapes continental policies.
McCourt's break with PSG
Meanwhile, OM owner Frank McCourt has formalised a rupture with Paris Saint‑Germain, distancing himself from the club’s president Nasser Al‑Khelaïfi, who currently chairs the EFC. Since 2025 McCourt has publicly called for reforms to French football governance, a stance that adds tension to the upcoming vote.
For Marseille, winning the seat would preserve a direct voice within one of the most influential European football institutions, ensuring the club’s interests are heard alongside the roughly 850 professional men’s and women’s clubs that the EFC represents.