Zarrak hits back at Papin harassment claims: 'Completely false'

📰 The row between Jean-Pierre Papin and Ali Zarrak over Marseille's reserve team has turned into an open war of words. 📌 Key points 🗞️ Papin told L'Équipe on 16 October he was harassed by Zarrak. 🙅 Zarrak replied in the same paper on 29 October: 'Completely false.' 🐕 He claims Papin brought his dogs on a team trip. 🥂 He says Papin drank champagne in a box after skipping training. 📉 He called Papin's coaching career 'very, very low level'. 📝 What happened 🗞️ Papin, the 1991 Ballon d'Or winner who played for Marseille from 1986 to 1992, told L'Équipe on 16 October that he suffered moral harassment for a year and a half from Zarrak while coaching the reserve side. He said Zarrak took every decision and undermined his authority, and that he alerted then-president Pablo Longoria ten times without result. 🙅 Zarrak, a former assistant to Medhi Benatia, told the same paper the claims were completely false. He said an investigation found no harassment on his part and that Papin had taken liberties he should not have. 🐕 Zarrak gave specific examples: Papin wanting his dogs on the team bus, turning up to coach in a Montpellier shirt, and, on 5 August 2024, missing training for an appointment with his daughter before being seen drinking champagne in a box at the Vélodrome during the Olympic semi-final between Morocco and Spain. He also alleged Papin spat on a memorial to former Lens coach Daniel Leclercq; Papin declined to comment. 📉 "I'm sorry to say it, but Jean-Pierre Papin's coaching career is very, very low level," Zarrak said. Papin left the reserve job after the 2024-25 season following internal tensions. 📊 By the numbers • Length of the alleged harassment: 18 months • Times Papin says he alerted Longoria: 10 • Papin at Marseille as a player: 1986–1992, Ballon d'Or in 1991 🔭 Why it matters A club legend and a current staff member trading public accusations is another headache for a Marseille side already dealing with money problems. Marseille host Toulouse at the Vélodrome at 8.45pm on 1 November.