Twenty-five years later, Christophe Dugarry recounts how he started the huge brawl that took place after OM’s UEFA Cup semi-final second leg in Bologna in 1999. The Phocaeans were deprived of five players for the final lost against Parma.
Five years before the final lost against Valencia (2-0), 19 years before the final lost against Atlético (3-0) and perhaps 25 years before the possible final on May 22, OM has completely sank in the final of the UEFA Cup (the former name of the Europa League), on May 12, 1999. The Phocéens led by Rolland Courbis had to make do with five suspended players, William Gallas, Hamada Jambay, Peter Luccin, Christophe Dugarry and Fabrizio Ravanelli, to take a scathing 3-0 against Parma.
At the whistle of qualification for the final on the field of Bologna, thanks to a 1-1 result in the semi-final return (penalty from Laurent Blanc in the 87th minute), Luccin, victim of monkey cries from the from the local fans, made a gesture towards the public and was jostled by opposing players as they approached the tunnel leading to the locker rooms of the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. “I can tell you, I didn’t do any fingers at any time.”assures the former defensive midfielder, guest of Rothen, ignites on RMC Thursday.
“I’m a complete idiot”
“Duga” then enters the scene. He tells: “I’m behind, I see that the guys are starting to heckle Peter, to push him around. Like a complete idiot, I get into the stretchers, I run and I go! I could have arrived quietly, told everyone to calm down. But I’m a complete idiot… The guys didn’t do anything to me. They’re not beating up my friend either. I have zero excuses, I am 100% at fault. I’m going to go further, it’s almost me who triggers the thing”. Huge altercation in the tunnel, the police intervene! Patrick Blondeau notably headbutts a helmeted police officer…
Deprived of some of its best players (Robert Pirès, Jocelyn Gourvennec and Florian Maurice made up the attacking trio in the final at the Luzhniki in Moscow), Marseille took on water against the Parmesans of Lilian Thuram, Alain Boghossian, Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo , first scorer on a poorly adjusted back header from Laurent Blanc, from the 25th minute. “In front they were serene, with world-class players. The best won. Having all the starters wouldn’t have changed much.”concludes Dugarry.
Two weeks later, on May 29, 1999, OM were deprived of the title of French champion by a winning Bordeaux in the 90th minute, on a goal from Pascal Feindouno, against PSG, in a delirious Parc des Princes.
