“I Lied He Had HIV”: How Ghana’s Abedi Pelé Was Denied A Move To Monaco
Abedi Pelé, one of Ghana and Africa’s greatest football legends, was turned down by then-Marseille president Bernard Tapie for a dream move to play for football club Monaco at the age of 23.
The 23-year-old Ghanaian player was competing in France’s 2nd Division, but he was soon to move to the country’s top division, though not to the team he anticipated.
Everything was prepared for Pelé to go to Monaco, but as he approached the Principality, Monaco abruptly lost interest. Abedi Pele joined Olympique Marseille the very next day. What transpired, then?
It took 30 years, but eventually Marseille president Bernard Tapie came clean about his cunning scheme to capture one of the best players in Africa.
Once agreed, Tapie told a Monaco employee which he knew well that Pele was HIV positive and that Marseille had had a narrow escape with him.
Naturally, the medical personnel was informed of the situation. Monaco came to the conclusion that Abedi Pelé was HIV positive even though he refused to submit to the blood test.
Unsurprisingly, the club decided against signing him, and a day later, Abedi Pelé was a member of the Marseille team.
At Marseille, Abedi Pelé proved to be a valuable player who achieved numerous victories. Among them are noteworthy:
- Winning multiple league titles with Marseille in 1991 and 1992.
- Winning the UEFA Champions League in 1993
In 1993, Abedi Pelé moved from Marseille to Lyon.
Due to financial issues related to Bernard Tapie, who led the team from 1984 until 1994, Marseille’s French league title was revoked and it was demoted to the second division.
