FRENCH football multibillionaire and former government minister Bernard Tapie died today at the age of 78, his family have announced.

       The flamboyant tycoon, who helped turned Olympic Marseille into Champions of Europe, succumbed to stomach cancer on Sunday as he waited for a major fraud trial to begin.

       4

       Adidas tycoon Bernard Tapie has died at the age of 78 Credit: AFP 4

       He helped turned Olympic Marseille into Champions of Europe Credit: Every Second Media www.everysecondmedia.com +44 7803 730548

       His death also came just six months after a burglary at his manor house in Combs-La-Ville, near Paris.

       Mr Tapie was badly beaten up, and then electric cords were used to restrain him and his wife, 70-year-old Dominique Tapie.

       Tapie's grandson Randolphe said his grandfather was hit over the head with a club while he was tied into a chair.

       Eventually Dominique Tapie was able to free herself and run to a neighbour's home to call the police.

       A statement was released today saying: “Dominique Tapie and her children have the infinite sorrow of announcing the death of her husband and of their father, Bernard Tapie, this Sunday, October 3 at 8:40 am, as a result of cancer.”

       It adds: “He left peacefully, surrounded by his wife, his children, his grandchildren and his brother, present at his bedside.”

       Most read in News

       FUEL D-DAY Soldiers start delivering petrol today as fuel crisis continues to hit London

       Exclusive

       SWIMMING FOOLS Boozy gran, 46, & pal break legs on flume sneaking into pool at 2am

       Exclusive

       FOOD BLAGGER Cops probe food blogger & lover over 'glass in food scam to net free dinners'

       'RAPIST' COP Second cop in Couzens' unit charged with rape 7 months after Sarah's murder

       Exclusive

       PRETTY RICH WOMAN Escort, 34, who conned wealthy client, 68, out of ￡2.5m facing 7yrs' jail

       XMAS CRISIS Christmas panic buying begins already as sales of turkeys soar by over 400%

       The family said Mr Tapie “expressed his wish to be buried in Marseille, the city of his heart”.

       Paris-born Mr Tapie served as a Socialist minister in France while also building up a sports and media empire.

       He was particularly well known for taking over failing companies in corporate raids, stripping them of their assets and selling them for vast profit.

       Among the status symbols he spent millions on was Olympic Marseille, and at one stage he was involved in a match-fixing scandal.

       Tapie has also received criminal convictions for tax fraud and misuse of corporate assets, and went to prison for five months.

       Following his release in 1997, he enjoyed a showbiz career that saw him become a household name in France.

       Tapie’s latest fraud trial was adjourned last year because of his cancer, and it was due to resume next May.

       It related to a marathon legal battle between Tapie and the state-owned Crédit Lyonnais bank.

       4

       Bernard Tapie poses with the trophy in Paris, after Olympique de Marseille's victory over AC Milan in the European Champion Clubs' Cup in Munic Credit: AFP 4

       The French businessman had been fighting stomach cancer Credit: AFP

       Outrageous brawl between Marseille and Angers fans breaks out in the stands and spills onto pitch after heated 0-0 draw