Olympique Marseille used a fake story about HIV to sign one of Africa's greatest players

ruth

July 24, 2017 9:56 AM

“Abedi Pele was HIV+ and that’s how we got him” – ex Marseille boss Bernard Tapie reveals

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Olympique Marseille succeeded in signing Ghana legend Abedi Ayew Pele in 1987 from Mulhouse at the expense of rivals AS Monaco – by deploying a bizarre strategy that worked perfectly.

According to ex-Marseille president Bernard Tapie, he conspired with a key official of Monaco in the transfer race to sign the playmaker by deploying a master plan that Pele had AIDS.

With Pele scheduled to undergo a medical test at AS Monaco, Tapie connived with an official of AS Monaco to concoct a falsehood that the ex-Ghana captain was HIV positive as that will end Monaco’s interest in the player.

The revelation of the false medical report instantly killed Monaco interest in the Ghana star which resulted in Marseille creeping in from behind to sign the talented midfielder.

Tapie revealed to journalists:

“You know what, I told the player (Pele) that when he arrives at Monaco for the medical examination , he will be asked to take a blood test which is done for African players but that he should not agree, that he should tell them he cannot support the blood test. At the same time I conspired with an employee at AS Monaco who was a known figure within the club and instructed him to fabricate a falsehood that the player was HIV positive. You know we escaped beautifully and the plan worked well . He told me we (Monaco) didn’t take Pele because he is HIV positive”

Marseille were now free from the Monaco competition and went on to sign Abedi Pele the next day and the African genius would help them to lift the Champions league title in 1993.

“Its like that , you have to win” said the 74-year old Tapie.

ruth