While multiple reports have Roma close to selling Jordan Veretout to Olympique Marseille for €11m, the French side’s fans are furiously protesting on social media because of a sex abuse scandal in his past.
Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia, La Gazzetta dello Sport and more are all confident an agreement has been reached and the transfer will be completed over the next 48 hours.
However, the news has not gone down well with Marseille fans, who made the hashtag #VeretoutNotWelcome trend on Twitter in France.
The reasons are not entirely related to football, as RMC Sport outline the fury is based on a report Veretout had paid the legal costs of his father-in-law, who had been accused of sexually assaulting one of his daughters – the player’s sister-in-law.
The man was sentenced to two years in prison in 2021.
The father-in-law’s defence lawyer has repeatedly denied the rumour that Veretout paid the legal fees.
FootMercato also note that the €5,000 legal fees were paid by the other daughters of the accused, but not specifically by the player or only his wife, Sabrina.
The daughters initially doubted the story of their sister, but cut ties with the father once he confessed.
Olympique Marseille President Pablo Longoria was irritated by the social media campaign, complaining that it was all “assumptions that he did something” and not “morally acceptable” to judge someone based on a rumour.
It’s not the first time Veretout’s wife Sabrina has got the player into trouble, as he was told off by Roma in March 2022 for attending her birthday party even after she had tested positive for COVID-19.
Absurd. This is family business even if it did happen the way the protesters claim. It’s been denied by the lawyer. The player is not guilty of anything. This is none of the fans’ business. I hope it goes through and goes well for Veretout. He has been a gentleman, has played well and hard while in Rome. Thanks for your service and best wishes.
I mean…..if he gave money to a guy who later was a convicted rapist…yeah that would probably piss people off
Just like everyone shutting an eye for Zaniolo’s disgraceful family behaviour. These soaked in money and care ballers have to set good examples, especially family values to kids idolising them. So yeah, their family business is their business. He needs to clear it out, not any lawyer charging the extra press hours. If these facts are all true, then it’s just right for any decent group of fans or stakeholders to protest such rubbish entering their club. Even if that’s a club with a bit of a fishy history in other ballparks itself.
how does all this related to football? I can’t believe how the world is now days
I think there’s probably more you can’t believe, understand or connect in this world. Sleep tight, ab.