French football bribery scandal

The French football bribery scandal (French: Affaire VA-OM) was a scandal involving bribery in a 1993 French Division 1 match between Olympique de Marseille and Valenciennes. The scandal led to the 1992–93 French Division 1 title being taken away from Marseille.

Prior to the 1992–93 French Division 1 season, Olympique de Marseille had won the previous four French Division 1 championships. Marseille had qualified for the 1993 UEFA Champions League Final against A.C. Milan, and were also close to winning the French Division 1 title.

Marseille won their match against Valenciennes 1–0 to secure the 1992–93 French Division 1 title and later won the 1993 UEFA Champions League Final 1–0 against A.C. Milan.

In May 1993, it was alleged that Marseille had bribed Valenciennes to deliberately lose the match between the two sides, in order that the Marseille team could be better prepared for their Champions League Final a few days later. Bernard Tapie asked footballer Jean-Jacques Eydelie to act as conduit, with money being offered to Valenciennes players Jacques Glassmann, Jorge Burruchaga and Christophe Robert. Robert's wife collected the money from Eydelie. Glassman refused to partake in the bribe, and was later awarded a FIFA Fair Play award for his actions. In his 2006 book, Eydelie described the event as such: "Bernard Tapie said to us, 'It is imperative that you get in touch with your former Nantes team-mates at Valenciennes (there were two of them including Burruchaga). We don't want them acting like idiots and breaking us before the final with Milan." During a raid, ₣250,000 were found in Robert's aunt's garden.

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