French top-flight football club Olympique de Marseille has announced its first steps in esports through a collaboration with Grizi Esport, a French organisation formed and owned by world-class footballer Antoine Griezmann alongside his brother Theo Griezmann.
For the upcoming 2020/2021 season, two new players will represent Marseille during the various international and national competitions for the upcoming new season of the FIFA Global Series.
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OM, partnered with Grizi Esport, will also compete in France’s domestic esports league, the eLigue1, organised by EA Sports and the French Football League.
The collaboration allows OM to organise online and in-person activations with its supporters in Marseille, France and around the world, but also to reach an ever wider audience.
Herve Philippe, OM’s Chief of Marketing & Media commented: “We are happy to take this first step into the world of electronic sport through this partnership with the Grizi Esport structure, founded by the Griezmann brothers.
“This will be an opportunity for Olympique de Marseille to better understand this new venture and to reach an ever younger and connected audience.”
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Beyond the competitive aspects of the competition, the collaboration between the two will help OM connect with gaming fans and address the local esports scene around online or physical events at their stadium, the Orange Velodrome.
Last month, Grizi Esport signed former FIFA eWorld Cup semi-finalist Fouad “Rafsou” Fares, who represented Olympique Lyonnais in last year’s edition of the eLigue1, finishing in the top eight.
Theo Griezmann, Grizi Esport’s CEO, added: “It is a huge honour to be associated with such a prestigious club like OM. As an OM fan, this news is all the more beautiful.
“We will try to carry the colours of Grizi Esport and OM in the various competitions to come with two extremely talented players who have already performed on the French and international scene.”
Alongside Rafsou, also competing for OM will be Amine “Mino7x” Boughanmi, who won last year’s edition of the eLigue1, representing AS Saint-Etienne.
Esports Insider says: This is a huge deal for French FIFA esports fans, as two of the best French players will collaborate with Olympique de Marseille, who are entering esports properly for the first time. This collaboration shows that OM means business and they will certainly become one of the favourites to win the eLigue1 in the upcoming season.