STRIFE ON MARS

French giants Marseille shocked mighty Milan in the 1993 final but were then relegated & banned from Europe for match-fixing & club president was jailed

- BY NEIL MCLEMAN X@NeilMcLeman

THE only other Champions League final between French and Italian sides was mired in controversy.

Marseille shocked mighty Milan in Munich in 1993 but were then relegated from Ligue 1 and banned from European football following a match-fixing scandal in the build-up. Their president was sent to jail.

And, 32 years later, fans of the southern club are split on whether to support rivals Paris Saint-Germain against Inter Milan tonight, with police in Marseille braced for trouble.

Becoming the first French team to win Europe's top club trophy became an obsession for Marseille owner Bernard Tapie after winning the French title back in 1989.

He signed England star Chris Waddle and saw his side reach the semi-finals in 1990 and lose the 1991 final on penalties to Red Star Belgrade.