In 1976, French Club AS Saint Etienne captured
the heart of the French public with its glorious run in the European Champions
Cup that ended in defeat in the Final vs. Franz Beckenbauer’s Bayern Munich
(0-1) at Glasgow (May 12th, 1976). Their epic European adventure
that stretched through many seasons, had made Saint Etienne, ‘Les Verts (the
Greens)’ the toast of the Nation.
Many
credit France’s Football revival due to the public interest generated from Saint Etienne’s memorable matches in the
European Cups, known in France as ‘L’Épopée
des Verts’.
The
team contained some of the best French players around, such as Dominique
Rocheteau, Jean-Michel Larqué, Christian Lopez, Gerard
Janvion, Dominique Bathenay, the Revelli brothers, etc.
The
main architects of their ascension were off the field. In April 1961, Roger
Rocher became President of the Club.
The man known for his trademark smoking pipe oversaw the development of
the most dominant team in the Nation for nearly two decades with League Titles
and Cups galore.
His
chief recruiter was Pierre Garonnaire (a former player for the club in the
30s-40s and recruiter since the 50s), who had a keen eye in finding the best
young talent around who would eventually make the step up to the First Team.
The
last piece of the puzzle was the Team Manager Robert Herbin (known as ‘Le
Sphinx’). He had joined Saint Etienne as a player in 1957 and was appointed as
Player-Manager and eventually as Manager of the Team.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 99, March 1984
(Roger Rocher and Robert Herbin) |
Herbin would go on and win many titles as a player and Manager in his more than
two decades with the Club. This triumvirate was regarded as a complimentary
efficient unit responsible for the Club’s continuous dominance.
The
match at Glasgow in retrospect was the zenith for the club. In the following
years they were still a player in France and in Europe, but the magic and aura
that they had achieved in Europe was slowly dissipating.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 69, September 1981-uploaded
(Pierre Garonnaire and Robert Herbin) |
In
a bid to recapture this magic, Rocher signed France’s Superstar at the time;
Michel Platini and Dutch striker Johnny Rep in the summer of 1979. They helped
Saint Etienne regain the French League in 1981 (they missed out on the domestic
Double by losing in the French Cup Final vs. Bastia).
While
a League title could have been viewed as a return to prominence and stability,
just brewing beneath the surface a Scandal was about to unfold, that would
destroy this once great side.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 60, December 1980
(Johnny Rep and Michel Platini) |
Despite
the latest League triumph, all was not well at ‘Le Forez’ (The region at La
Loire near Saint Etienne). In the offseason, Jacques Santini (future National
Team Manager) left to join Montpellier to gain some playing time. Upon departure,
he criticized Herbin, not only as Manager, but his human qualities as well.
Attorney
Andre Buffard (a member of the Club’s Administration), who would be one of the
chief actors in the events that would follow, recounted that the early signs of
trouble started in the spring of 1981.
According
to him, many administrators were suspicious of Rocher’s financial practices at
the club. Any attempts to question Rocher about the financial affairs and
dealings of the club would result in no compliance by Rocher and his allies.
Rocher
behaved like a dictator and his relationship with Herbin and Garonnaire was
deteriorating. Many believed Rocher wanted to dismiss both loyal servants of
the club.
That
season (1981/82) despite challenging for the title and the Cup until the end,
there was a negative mood at the club.
Michel
Platini and Jean-François Larios were incompatible at midfield and did not
complement one another that resulted in tension within the club (They would
have even bigger troubles with one another that we shall get to).
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Hors serie 11, 1981
(Saint Etienne squad, 1981/82) |
Roger
Rocher also wanted to place former goalkeeper, the Yugoslav Yvan Curkovic on
the Technical Staff (against the wishes of Herbin).
The
rift between Herbin/Garonnaire and Rocher was growing evermore.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 47, November 1979
(Yvan Curkovic) |
It
was towards the end of March 1982, that Rocher learned of an impending ‘Coup’
against him.
The
leaders of this anti-Rocher faction (de-facto pro-Herbin) were Henri Fiéloux
and Attorney Andre Buffard (Members of the Club Administration).
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 99, March 1984
(Andre Buffard) |
On
April 1st, the ‘Loire-Matin’
newspaper informed its readers that Roger Rocher would be questioned in the
Club’s General Assembly about the suspect Financial State of the Club.
Many refer to this newspaper article as the starting
point of the ‘La Caisse Noire’ scandal.
This
anti-Rocher lobby brought forth Four Items at the Club’s General Assembly
meeting for Rocher to answer to:
1)
The
Club’s Financial Deficit and the actual cost.
2)
The
Contract with McCormack International.
3)
The
exact role of Yvan Curkovic on the Technical Staff and his salary.
4)
Whether
he is open to Power Sharing (since they felt he ruled like a tyrant).
The
Communist Mayor of Saint Etienne Jacques Sanguedolce, who was a Rocher
Supporter, condemned this and considered it a betrayal.
The
meeting on April 5th took five hours (with a Pro-Rocher mob outside
waiting).
At
1 AM, he came out of the meeting, and was still in control of the team. It
appeared that this initial attempt to oust him had been unsuccessful.
He
reassured that he would not conduct a witch-hunt on the opposition.
Herbin
was losing popularity amongst the Saint Etienne faithful, as the instigators of
this Coup were perceived to be pro-Herbin.
Herbin
had himself declared that it was going to be either him or Rocher, one of them
had to go.
On
April 12th, Herbin’s house was broken into (presumably by pro-Rocher
loyalists). Herbin also stated that he believed there had been an attempt to
poison his dogs.
On
May 6th, Rocher once again pushed for the inclusion of Curkovic on
the technical staff.
Herbin
and Pierre Garonnaire were now allied in their opposition of Rocher and
believed Curkovic’s propsed appointment was an attempt by Rocher to lessen
their influence by having his ‘own-man’ in the dressing room.
The
Anti-Rocher faction once again demanded an Emergency meeting, After checking
the books, 3,600,000 Million French Francs were discovered for the salaries of
month of May that Rocher could or would not account for.
In
addition, funds were discovered coming from ‘Boutique des Verts’ (Club’s
merchandising shop) that were allocated to a yet unnamed source (that would
soon be named ‘La Caisse Noire’).
With
the pressure mounting on him, on May 17th, Rocher resigned (after 21
years) from the Saint Etienne Presidency along with seven of his supporters. It
was a ‘tactical’ resignation, as he believed in the next election he would be
overwhelmingly re-elected and his detractors would be kicked out.
Despite
his resignation, he still maintained an office at the stadium with the title of
‘ASSSE-Promotion’.
In
the meantime, the club had lost the French League title on the last day by one
point to AS Monaco. They also lost the French Cup Final to Paris St. Germain.
At
the end of that season, Michel Platini left having signed for Juventus.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 60, December 1980
(Michel
Platini)
|
Team
Captain Christian Lopez (Pro-Rocher) left Saint Etienne after Rocher’s
resignation and joined Toulouse. He declared he would have stayed had Rocher
remained in control. Amongst the players, he was viewed as the strongest
Pro-Rocher supporter. Along with Platini and Rep, he had refused to sign a
petition declaring support for Herbin.
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, New series, issue 11, February 1981
(Christian Lopez) |
After
Rocher’s resignation, Yvan Curkovic’s position at the club had become untenable
and he was predictably ousted from the club in June 1982.
During
the 1982 World Cup (in June and July), the extra-marital affair of
Jean-François Larios with Michel Platini’s wife was discovered.
Rocher
demanded the removal of Larios for his act; however, Herbin sided with Larios
and maintained him in the team (needless to say, Larios was in the pro-Herbin
camp).
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 15, June 1981
(Jean-Francois Larios) |
On
July 17th, the anti-Rocher opposition (Fieloux-Buffard), who were
now part of a caretaker board, reported to the Police and the Tax Authorities
the club’s Financial Records’ Irregularities.
On
July 18th, Rocher admitted that some players had been paid from a
slush fund.
Upon
this admission, the scheduled July 26th Club Assembly (where Rocher
was due to declare himself as Candidate once more) was postponed until October.
On
August 9th, Fieloux was elected as caretaker President. He refused
to sanction an extraordinary General Meeting as demanded by the Pro-Rocher
faction.
On
August 14th, Rocher formally admitted the existence of ‘La Caisse Noire’ (The slush fund used for
under the table payments).
On
August 18th, Herbin and Larios declared that they had received
payments from the ‘La Caisse Noire’.
In
time it would be revealed that between 1977 and 1982 more than 20 Million
French Francs were deposited into this fund. (Some had estimated the origin of
this secret fund to as far back as 1947, but its most activity was during the
1977-1982 years).
Rocher
used this fund (that he would refer to as a ‘war chest’) to be able to hang
onto his best players.
In
addition to the previously mentioned funds from the ‘Boutique des Verts’,
additional sums were collected from the revenue from their European Cup
matches.
A
percentage from each source would be collected and placed under anonymous
bonds.
On
August 24th, a Television Investigation revealed that some of these
funds were used as payoffs to local Politicians.
On
September 10, Mayor Sanguedolce demanded the presence of a Representative from
the Municipality to ‘keep an eye’ on the Financial affairs.
On
October 13th, the temporary Board at the behest of the French
Football Federation agreed to have a General Meeting on December 1st.
On
October 21st, Lyon Prosecutor Jacques Fayen was appointed to this
case.
On
November 10th, The French Football Federation entered the legal
process to have access on all the club’s paperwork.
On
the days of November 16 thru 18, 1982, Rocher along with Louis Arnaud, Lucian Dumas,
Jean Brunel (Treasurer), Jean-Claude Marjollet (Administraive secretary) and
even caretaker President Fieloux (because he was aware of the ongoing
irregularities) were all charged for Falsifying Documents, Mismanagement, etc.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 99, March 1984
(The six accused: Top: Rocher, Arnaud, Fieloux,
Bottom: Marjollet, Brunel, Dumas) |
Before
the General Assembly in December, Rocher had been told by the Prosecutor to
stay away from the proceedings and not to interfere.
Pierre
Fourneyon of the Pro-Rocher side withdrew his bid to be President, presumably
for the possible return of Rocher.
Despite
the charges, after the December 5th General Assembly, the Pro-Rocher
faction came out victorious. Herbin’s fate was most likely sealed that day.
Rocher
had lost the first part of the conflict to Herbin in May, but now had the upper
hand (at least his faction was).
In
fact had Pierre Fourneyron been elected President, chances are Herbin would
have been dismissed with immediate effect.
The
conflict with Buffard and Fourneyron bought him some time.
On
December 7th, French Federation’s top Brass: Fernand Sastre and Jean
Sadoul arrived at Saint Etienne to resolve the ongoing matter.
On
December 9th, Paul Bressy, from the Pro-Rocher side, was elected as
the new Club President. He held meetings with other members, players, and staff
and explained that sacrifices would have to be made due to the club’s financial
status. Herbin had even declared that he would accept a cut in his salary.
Bressy
re-iterated that there would be no reprisals against the pro-Herbin crowd and
everyone would have to pull together.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 99, March 1984
(Mayor Joseph Sanguedolce and Paul Bressy) |
For
a short time, it seemed a semblance of stability had been achieved.
On
the Technical front, the season had been disappointing, as the uncertainty on
the matters off the field compounded with the loss of Platini and Lopez had
affected the team.
The
acquisitions of current and former Internationals: defender Phillipe Mahut and
midfielders Bernard Genghini and Alain Moizan had not been enough.
The
team’s foreign signing, the Danish striker Flemming Christensen also had little
impact.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Hors Serie 15, 1982
(Saint
Etienne squad, 1982/83)
|
In
the meantime, Claude Faure, the Municipality Representative from the Mayoral
Office, had been nominated on the club board.
His
inclusion was further sign that Herbin would be on his way out.
Bad
results in the League had further weakened his position. The team’s League
standing was one its worst in over a decade
After
the New Year, on January 9th, 1983, Mayor Sanguedolce exasperated
the situation by once again entering the fray and publicly blaming Herbin for
all the club’s problems.
On
the same day, Bressy summoned Herbin and told him to wait for the Postman, as
he was about to receive an important mail from the Club (It was the letter of
his dismissal).
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1918, January 11, 1983
(cartoon showing Rocher delivering the mail to Herbin
notifying his dismissal) |
On
January 10th, Herbin was sacked, as was his Assistant Bernard
Gardon.
Gardon,
a former player loyal to Herbin, was acting as a Superintendent on the
Technical staff. According to Christian Lopez, Gardon was responsible for the
petition to support Herbin and this had earned him his new position.
Guy
Briet, the Manager of the club’s Third Division side (reserve team) was
appointed as the new Manager (Financially the cheapest solution).
After
his dismissal many of the players placed the blame on Herbin. Among them
Janvion, Genghini and Johnny Rep, who outright described him as a bad Coach.
Rep squarely blamed the crisis on Herbin for starting the conflict with Rocher.
Janvion,
had actually wanted to leave in the summer after Rocher’s resignation, but
Herbin and Garonnaire had opposed his departure.
Janvion
felt that at one point Herbin had been an excellent Manager and should have
left much earlier with his reputation still intact.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 63, March 1981
(Gerard Janvion) |
Defender
Phillipe Mahut felt Herbin’s departure would bring calm and tranquility to the
squad and they would be able to work in a more favorable environment.
The
Mayor Sanguedolce had also stated that Herbin had refused a reduction in his
salary, which was no longer compatible with the club finances.
Rocher
from a distance declared that Herbin’s firing was logical given the turn of
events.
Herbin’s
main supporter was predictably Larios. He declared his intention to leave (he
did so shortly thereafter).
Herbin
had repeated many times he had no intention resigning and would have liked to
work in peace to re-launch the club.
Many
criticized the manner in which Herbin heightened the tensions by giving an
ultimatum that ‘it’s either Rocher or me’.
Herbin
left Saint Etienne as the most decorated individual in French Soccer. As a
player he had won five League Titles and three Cups. As a Manager he had won
four League Titles and three Cups.
More
Importantly it was the Legacy of his squad’s matches in the European Cups
especailly the Final in Glasgow in 1976.
Herbin
would manage regional rival Olympique Lyonnais in the Second division (1983/85)
before working in Saudi Arabia (Al Nassr) and then retuning to France
(Strasbourg, 1986/87).
He would
eventually return to his beloved Saint Etienne in 1987 and remain as Manager
until 1990.
Pierre
Garonnaire, was 66 years old and was due to retire anyway on March 31, 1983.
Otherwise, he would have shared a similar fate as Herbin. (Garonnaire passed away
on July 8th, 1998.)
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 63, March 1981
(Pierre
Garonnaire)
|
Many
felt Rocher and the Mayor Sanguedolce had plotted Herbin’s downfall. Bressy,
despite his reassurances to the contrary, had been powerless since the Club
needed the Municipality’s assistance to remain solvent.
Herbin
decried the involvement of the Mayor’s Office in the mix, as they were
outsiders, and felt his firing was an attempt by the Mayor to curry favor with
the electorate to win votes (since Herbin was very unpopular at the time and
was being constantly booed during matches).
If
that was the plan, it backfired, since in March 1983, Sanguedolce lost the
Mayoral election to the right leaning candidate Dublanchet.
On
January 13th, 1983, Fernand Sastre and other Federation
representatives checked the club’s books in greater detail. They discovered
that Herbin, Gardon, Garonnaire, Larios, Patrick Battiston, Gerard Janvion and
other officials had all been paid from the slush fund.
In
all cases, the players knew that they were receiving illicit money, but were
unaware of its origin (nor were the politicians).
Sastre
declared that the funds had been reported to Tax Authorities and would be
subject to taxation but there would be neither legal action nor penalties.
On
May 4th, Bressy resigned under pressure from the opposition (Andre Buffard
faction).
Andre
Laurent succeeded him as President.
Shortly
afterwards, Buffard revealed the existence of a second ‘Caisse Noire’ with bank
accounts in Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
The
following season (1983/84), Jean Djorkaeff was appointed as new Manager.
In
the offseason the club lost many of its last remaining stars.
Patrick
Battiston (pro-Herbin) joined Bordeaux and Gerard Janvion (the last survivor
from 1976) joined Paris St. Germain.
Former
youth prospect Laurent Roussey joined Toulouse.
Dutchman
Johnny Rep returned to Holland (PEC Zwolle) and Bernard Genghini joined AS
Monaco.
The
ineffective Christensen also departed to pastures new.
The
team now operating on a limited budget could only attract the likes of
Paraguayan Carlos Diarte (Betis) and Poland’s Janusz Kupcewicz (Lech Poznan).
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Hors Serie 17, 1983
(Saint
Etienne squad, 1983/84)
|
The
team was severely weakened and struggled in the League.
The
few remaining links with the past were goalkeeper Jean Castaneda and midfielder
Jean-Louis Zanon.
On
the Legal front, the new Prosecutor in charge of the case was Patrick Desmure
(He had taken over from Fayen on February 1983).
On
November 30th, 1983, he interrogated Rocher for six hours.
Afterwards Rocher was placed in the Saint-Joseph Prison in Lyon.
He
would remain in Prison until March 1984 and then released on bail.
At
the end of the season, the once mighty Saint Etienne were relegated to the
Second Division after a playoff against Racing Club Paris.
The
Legal proceedings dragged on for nearly a decade. Finally on May 15, 1991,
Roger Rocher was sentenced to three years of Prison (4 months suspended) and a
fine of 800,000 French Francs (Prior to appealing, he had originally been
sentenced to 4 years with 18 months suspended and a fine of 200,000 French
Francs).
The
sentence affirmed that Rocher had enriched himself 313,000 French Francs
through his Company SFTP (Société forézienne de Travaux Publics).
Rocher
to the end denied the accusations and stated that ‘Saint Etienne was my
mistress for 21 years, would a man steal from his mistress?’
After
Four months in Prison, French President François Mitterrand pardoned him on
October 18th, 1991.
Despite
his release, he still had to pay the fine. To raise the funds for his fine he
was forced to sell his house. In addition, he was also forced to sell all his
trophies to Montpellier President Louis Nicollin (an avid collector of such
Memorabilia).
To
this day, the club has not regained its past glory and has suffered further
relegations in 1996 (3 years in Division 2) and 2001 (3 years in Division 2).
Since
2004, the team has been a mainstay at the Top Division and a stable team but
nowhere near its former glory and is now playing second fiddle in the region to
Olympique Lyonnais.
The
ordeal had taken a toll on Rocher and he withdrew from Public life for the remaining
years of his life.
Roger
Rocher passed away on March 29th, 1997 at the age of 77.
He
was the French club President with the most titles in the history of French
Soccer (Nine League Titles (plus one Second Division title) and six Cups).
His
was a cautionary tale that was not heeded by future French Club Presidents such
as Claude Bez (Girondins de Bordeaux) and Bernard Tapie (Olynpique Marseille),
who both in turn crashed and burned in their quest for glory.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 63, March 1981
(Roger Rocher) |
Note:
1-As
far as the players, the primary beneficiary from this secret fund appears to
have been Jean-François Larios who received 1,110,000 French Francs.
Others
player included: Gerard Janvion (964,780 FF), Michel Platini (880,000 FF),
Oswaldo Piazza (325,399 FF)…….Alain Merchandier (23,333 FF).
It
appears Doninique Rocheteau did not participate in this scheme.
Match
Organizer Christian Duraincie received 350,000 FF.
Robert
Herbin rcceived 623, 222 FF
Political
figures such as Lucien Neuwirth recived 50,000 FF and Michel Durafour received
90,000 FF.
2-In the course of the investigation most of the
funds and their beneficiaries have been accounted for, but there is still a
balance of 6 Million French Francs still unaccounted for as to its origin and
beneficiary.
References:
France
Football, Issue 1918, January 11, 1983 (‘La Loi du Milieu’ By Denis Chaumier,
Onze, Issue 99, March 1984 (‘Tout, Tout, Tout, Sur L’Affaire des Verts’ By Guy
Mislin)
World Soccer, March 1983 (‘Saint-Etienne
Scandal’ By Andre Duclos (aka Brian Glanville))
