Cameroon international Henri Bedimo is no longer a player of Olympique Marseille, who said the decision was final. According to the French club, the 34-year-old defender committed a ‘grave offence’ which violated the regulations of the outfit.
Marseille said the player built a football academy in his hometown of Douala in Cameroon which was partly funded by his former club Montpellier even while still under contract at Marseille until 2019.
“The player Henri Bedimo did not respect our rules by his move to collaborate with his former club for a school project while still a player of Marseille. It is forbidden in football,” said Alexandre Mialhe, Marseille’s director of legal affairs.
“We initially stopped him from training at our ground while we were investigating. We have finally told him to leave the club.”
Bedimo, who won the French Ligue 1 with Montpellier in 2012, said the move was not to disrespect Marseille but an opportunity to help underprivileged children back home in Cameroon.
“The academy is for kids. To help them grow and shape their lives into people who can contribute positively to the society. It is not meant to make money,” Bedimo said.
