Uefa examine Papin 'claim'

Uefa yesterday launched an inquiry into new bribery allegations against Marseille, the former European Cup winners, after reports that the French club attempted to bribe two AC Milan players prior to their victory over the Italians in the 1993 final.

Europe's governing body said, however, that it had not decided whether to summon Jean-Pierre Papin, the French striker who had been quoted by Italian newspapers as saying that players were bribed. He has since denied the comments.

"We have opened an investigation," a Uefa spokeswoman said, "but whether Mr Papin will be called in on that date [31 August] we don't know."

Bernard Tapie is fighting a two-year jail sentence for corruption while he was president of Marseille.