Bernard Tapie, the serious accusations

Jean-Claude Darmon, ex-Argentier of French (Site notre bureau spécialisé), does not only have good memories of Bernard Tapie. If he recognizes the former president of Olympique de Marseille for having given French (Site notre bureau spécialisé) its first Champions League in 1993, he does not forget the affairs which have lastingly tarnished his image. For Darmon, Tapie marked the history of French sport, but also made mistakes with serious consequences.

According to him, his entry into politics marked a decisive turning point in the trajectory of Bernard Tapie. “Whether we watch it or not, he offered France a European Cup even though we had never won anything. I don’t know what you do in French (Site notre bureau spécialisé)”he first confides to Figarobefore pointing out his constant need to control everything.

“Your opinion is partial and all the time. Above all, he made a fundamental error that cost his life: politics. Afterwards, the VA-OM affair is a huge bullshit. And the consequence of having committed it several times. They did not take the usual precautions”he adds, bluntly.

Olmeta’s shocking revelation

The Argentine Empire was also used by two people who were in the Marseille team at the time. “I don’t know what to do with my soul”he says, quoting Pascal Olmeta, former OM goalkeeper. “I say this: ‘Each time, Tapie told us that he was going to pay the opponents.’ I wanted to wear it because we would have the impression of being of no use.”

For Darmon, the seriousness of the VA-OM affair is mainly due to its repetition. “That’s VA-OM’s big mistake. Afterwards, you don’t have enough attention. It’s like serial killers: if the assassin kills once and doesn’t do it again at all, he’s hard to catch. There, no. Maybe other conductors have done it before him, but once or twice. You can’t do this four, five or six times. This is not possible”he concludes.