Source: Daily_Mail
Mark Hateley: Marseille offered me money not to play against them
Former England striker Mark Hateley claims he was offered a financial incentive not to play for Rangers in a Champions League clash against Marseille in 1993. [LNB]The two teams met in the group stages of the competition, whose format at that time saw the winner of two groups of four qualify directly for the final. [LNB]Marseille did just that, before beating AC Milan 1-0 to win their only Champions League trophy to date, but Hateley has now suggested he was offered money not to appear in the group fixture - an offer he turned down. [LNB] No thanks: Hateley turned down a bribe and played for Rangers against Marseille[LNB]In an interview with ITV, Hateley said: 'It was a friend of a friend, who had got in touch via certain routes, basically asking me not to play. [LNB]'It would be financially rewarding for you, he said, should I not play in the Marseille game. [LNB]'He was not an agent I knew, but another agent had given him the number. It was a French-speaking person, offering me large sums of money not to play against Marseille. [LNB]'It points the finger at a person, or persons, working within that club not wanting me to play.'[LNB] Marseille won the domestic league in the same season but were stripped of their title following match-fixing allegations against their former owner, Bernard Tapie.[LNB] Ally the boss! Rangers job an offer that I just couldn't refuse, says McCoistCeltic 3 Rangers 0: No talk, just a cakewalk as Bhoys seal stunning winDownbeat Rangers boss Smith searches for light amid growing gloomAll the latest Rangers news, features and opinion[LNB]
