The French Football Federation and French telecom Orange announced a four-year partnership that will start in May ’18, according to L’ÉQUIPE. The telecom will become a “major partner” of the FFF. The agreement will see Orange “support the French national teams (men’s, women’s and youth) and amateur football.” No financial details were released, but the “average value for this type of partnership” is about €5M ($5.8M) per year. Orange joins the FFF’s current five major partners: Crédit Agricole, EDF, Nike, PMU and Volkswagen (L’ÉQUIPE, 10/5).
IN MARSEILLE: L’ÉQUIPE reported negotiations between Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille and Orange for the telecom to be a jersey sponsor are "advanced," according to a source with the club. OM is currently without a shirt sponsor (L’ÉQUIPE, 10/5). LA PROVENCE's Fabrice Lamperti reported the lack of sponsor on the jersey has been "hailed by some supporters." But having no sponsor was "not dictated by an aesthetic choice." The club decided it would go without one "rather than accept a sponsorship at a lower rate." OM's former shirt sponsor, Intersport, paid the club €5M annually. Orange is the current naming rights holder of OM's Velodrome Stadium (LA PROVENCE, 10/5).
