New Delhi: Olympique de Marseille has always been a club that sets the standard in French football. Now, it has made history by becoming the first Ligue 1 club to form an amputee football team. This new side is ready to compete in the French amputee football championship, joining a four-team league that includes Paris FC, Annecy, and Bouaye. Their first match is set for the weekend, marking a new era for inclusive football in France.
A step forward for Amputee Football
Olympique de Marseille breaks new ground in French football with the creation of an amputee football team.
Captain Jerome Raffetto, once a Ligue 2 player before a life-changing accident, calls it a historic moment.
Setting an example 👏 pic.twitter.com/GXVn6qNHjD
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) February 5, 2025
The idea of an amputee football team at Marseille came from club captain Jerome Raffetto. A former Ligue 2 player, Raffetto’s professional career was cut short by a road accident in 2005. He had once dreamed of playing for Marseille, and now, nearly two decades later, he has finally achieved that dream in a different way. After years of planning, OM officially launched the team in January, making it a landmark moment for amputee football.
Marseille’s initiative has received strong support, including from club advisor Fabrizio Ravanelli. The former Italy international believes football should be accessible to everyone, and Marseille is taking a big step in ensuring that. Coach Karim Belounis also hopes this move will encourage more professional clubs to follow suit, creating a snowball effect that will push amputee football forward in France.
The OM amputee football team trains weekly at the OM Campus, the same facility used by the club’s youth and women’s teams. They have full access to professional training resources, including proper equipment and dressing rooms, which is a significant boost for their development. While the players are not paid, they receive support for expenses, allowing them to focus on growing the sport.
Marseille’s ambitions go beyond just competing in the French league. The team is determined to win the domestic title and qualify for next season’s amputee Champions League. If successful, they would aim to match Marseille’s historic European triumph in 1993, when the club became the first and only French team to win the Champions League.
Olympique de Marseille has made history by becoming the first Ligue 1 club to launch an amputee football team, aiming for domestic success and a spot in the amputee Champions League. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
