PODGORICA, Montenegro – Red Star Belgrade players were offered money to lose the 1991 European club final against Marseille, a former player said Thursday.
Dejan Savicevic told the Associated Press that $333,464 was offered by unnamed soccer managers to several Red Star players while they were in their hotel before winning the final 5-3 on penalty kicks in Bari, Italy.
"It's not a secret," Savicevic said in a telephone interview. "I have been saying this for a while and I have never denied it: 500,000 marks was offered to us.
"We refused it because it is not in our character. Everyone knows it ... ask (former goalkeeper Stevan) Stojanovic, or (former midfielder) Robert Prosinecki."
Star midfielder Savicevic moved to AC Milan soon after the final and helped his new club win the Champions League against Barcelona in 1994. He is now president of the Montenegro Football Association.
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Dusan Stojanovic contributed to this report.
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