Shortly before 5:45 p.m. this Thursday, the sadness of the cellos played on the speakers of the Velodrome stadium, gave way to a clamor. “Lurking! Lurking! Tapie ”, sang several times, among other hymns, the 3,500 Marseillais, come to say goodbye“ to the Boss ”. For this last communion, before the religious ceremony on Friday, the family of Bernard Tapie and the management of OM, chose to broadcast the most beautiful of Marseille masses: the OM-Bayern match of May 26, 1993.
Remembrance of a great time
And we have come from afar to pay tribute for some. Such Stecy and Fabrice, originally from Reunion, came down from Angers on Wednesday evening. “Had to be there, he engraved our hearts forever”, explains this couple from Reunion Island and “naturally” Marseille supporters. The same goes for Clément, 21, and his two little brothers, descended from Bondy. “OM is a heritage”, explains this son of a Parisian family, Marseille supporters of father of son. Philippe, resident of Aubagne, was there in Munich in 1993; he was 19 years old. As in Bari two years earlier. He was on all European trips. With the Winners first, then the MTPs, to Gothenburg, finally, for a 3-0 defeat in the UEFA final in 2005. “I just come to say thank you,” he said. “I have no children, the best memories of my life are with OM. I had the chance to live a great time, ”he says.
In the 44th minute of the match broadcast on the big screens of the stadium, while Basile Boli, on a corner from Abedi Pelé, slams the ball into the net with his head, rises a new clamor. Then, silence. Finally, Bernard Tapie’s coffin, covered with scarves and flags, makes its entrance onto the lawn to the sound of Jump, preceded by a tifo, a portrait and “his” European Cup, that “with big ears “. Excerpts from the documentary It’s the story of a goal were then broadcast before a final tribute from the supporters who were able to sing new songs. Shortly after 6:45 p.m., the funeral convoy resumed its journey to heavy applause. A small group of supporters stayed for a long time to greet the presidential platform where the family of Tapie was located, the players of the workforce who did not leave for selection, Pablo Longoria, Jorge Sampaoli and elected officials of the City.
Burial this Friday
The commemorations continue tomorrow in Marseille. With an appointment at 9 am in the Old Port so that a procession can go to the Cathedral of the Major, where the religious ceremony takes place. Bernard Tapie will then rest in the cemetery of Mazargues, in the 9th arrondissement.