By qualifying for the semi-finals of the Europa League Conference, OM did not think they would revive a very bad memory.
Because the return semi-final between Olympique de Marseille and PSV Eindhoven is scheduled for May 5, 2022. However, in France, it is forbidden to play football on that day in order to pay tribute to the victims of the Furiani tragedy.
Not to miss
It was indeed on May 5, 1992, that a stand at the Furiani stadium collapsed on itself before the semi-final of the Coupe de France between SC Bastia and OM, resulting in the death of 18 people and injuring 2,357 spectators, some of whom suffered lifelong consequences.
A few hours after the tragedy, the President of the Republic at the time, François Mitterrand, had entrusted to the father of a victim, that we would no longer play football in France on May 5.
After years of discussions, Parliament adopted a law, on October 14, 2021, carried by the Corsican deputy Michel Castellani, in order to sanctify this date: “In tribute to the victims of the national tragedy which occurred on the sidelines of the Coupe de France match. contested at the Armand-Cesari stadium in Furiani on May 5, 1992, no meeting or sporting event organized within the framework of, or on the sidelines of, the professional French football championships of the first and second division, the French football cup and the Trophée des champions is only played on the date of May 5. »
Unfortunately, this law does not apply to European competitions. OM have the option of asking UEFA to bring the date of the match forward to May 4, but it seems unlikely that any request will be successful.
