Football/ Justice: Mbemba files legal complaint against former club Marseille
Lille defender Chancel Mbemba has escalated his dispute with Olympique de Marseille by filing criminal charges for moral harassment and pressure against his former employer.
The 31-year-old Congolese international, who earned 97 caps for his country, lodged the complaint with Marseille prosecutors several months ago, targeting both the club and president Pablo Longoria.
The legal action stems from alleged psychological pressure tactics used during transfer negotiations.
Mbemba’s tumultuous final season at Marseille saw him banished to the club’s reserve group before engaging in a public confrontation with Ali Zarrak, an associate of sporting director Mehdi Benatia.
The situation deteriorated further when medical disagreements led to his suspension, effectively sidelining him for the entire 2024-25 campaign.
The defender, whose contract expired in June, has since revitalized his career at Lille, making his return to competitive football against Toulouse last Sunday his first appearance since facing Le Havre in May 2024.
When contacted for comment, Marseille declined to respond to the allegations, while the prosecutor’s office neither confirmed nor denied the ongoing investigation.
The legal team of Chancel Mbemba maintains that their client suffered systematic harassment designed to force his departure from the Stade Vélodrome.
