"Mayol is part of Toulon's identity. Mayol is the soul of the RCT": Hubert Falco responds to Bernard Lemaitre

"There is nothing more beautiful than Mayol singing." How many times has Hubert Falco uttered this phrase, which sums up the former mayor's love for "his" rugby team and the home of the Rouge et Noir? For RCT president Bernard Lemaitre, however, it is only an "incantation," a "lyricism" that ultimately says nothing about the reality the manager is facing these days: in this case, a dilapidated stadium requiring extensive modernization work .

"A collective pride"

"Surprised" – and probably a little offended – by these comments, Hubert Falco posted a long message on social media to explain his deep attachment to the Besagne stadium. "No, these are not incantations. These are memories, emotions, entire generations who grew up and vibrated with the RCT in this unique stadium in France, in the heart of the city, a stone's throw from our Mediterranean Sea," he wrote. "It's a popular culture, a collective pride, an unbreakable bond between a club, a city and its people. Mayol is part of the Toulon identity. Mayol is the soul of the RCT."

And the former mayor insisted, stung to the quick: "It shouldn't be a problem to say that we have a great crowd, a great atmosphere, and that Mayol can be full... when the sporting performances are up to scratch. (...) I have a lot of respect for Castres and its crowd, but the atmosphere at the Pierre-Fabre stadium has never been comparable to that of a boiling Mayol."