Ali Zarrak accuses Papin of spitting on memorial and lying about daughter's illness

Ali Zarrak, former assistant to Medhi Benatia at Olympique de Marseille, has responded point-by-point to the moral harassment accusations leveled by Jean-Pierre Papin in the pages of L’Équipe, following the release of a documentary about the ex-striker. Far from simply setting the record straight, Zarrak has in turn made serious accusations against the former Ballon d’Or winner.

On the substance, Zarrak dismisses the harassment allegations. “The conclusions have been delivered and simply state that there was no harassment on my part,” he asserts, contesting Papin’s version that an internal investigation had not been completed. He does acknowledge, however, having had to reprimand the reserve team coach on several occasions for lapses in professionalism: dogs brought onto the club bus during an away trip, or Papin showing up to training wearing a Montpellier shirt on the day of a senior match against that same club. “Is that provocation? The first one bothered by it is me. It’s not very pleasant to have to lecture someone of his stature and who is old enough to be your father,” he confides.

The most serious accusations concern two separate incidents. Zarrak claims that Papin asked to be excused from a session citing an appointment related to his daughter Emily’s illness, before being spotted that same evening in a box at the Vélodrome during the Morocco-Spain match. “You understand that I could express a certain feeling of disgust,” he says.

The most striking episode allegedly occurred at Lens during a reserve team away trip. At the stadium entrance, a memorial honors Daniel Leclercq, the emblematic former coach of the northern club. According to Zarrak, Papin spat on it upon arrival. “I’m flabbergasted. I feel like I’m in a science fiction film,” the former Marseille official confides.

Jean-Pierre Papin has not yet publicly responded to these new accusations.