Defender Serge Aurier suspended by PSG for Chelsea visit over comments
ByPA Sport
Published 14/02/2016 at 21:57 GMT
Serge Aurier has been suspended by Paris St Germain for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea after comments he made about coach Laurent Blanc and his team-mates on social media.
Paris St Germain have suspended Serge Aurier after he criticised boss Laurent Blanc on social media
Image credit: PA Sport
The full-back has apologised after a live question-and-answer session on Periscope came to light in which he insulted Blanc and several PSG players.
A statement on PSG's website read: "This Sunday, the club have learned of a video distributed on social media in which Serge Aurier responds to questions from internet users.
"The video, filmed in a private context, contains certain comments which are clearly unacceptable from a Paris St Germain player, towards certain team-mates and especially towards coach Laurent Blanc.
"The club have opened disciplinary proceedings against the player, accompanied by a provisional suspension. Serge Aurier therefore will not figure in the squad to play against Chelsea on Tuesday in the Champions League.
"Paris St Germain offer their full support to coach Laurent Blanc and to the players who, quite rightly, feel offended by these comments which are against the values of the club."
Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi added: "I have taken the decision to suspend Serge Aurier. Paris St Germain is a very strong institution and nobody can affect that.
"I will not allow anyone to cause difficulty for the club or distract us from our aims, beginning with our meeting with Chelsea."
Aurier, 23, has been a regular under Blanc this season but criticised the former France coach, along with PSG players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria, in the video.
In a subsequent video on PSG TV, Ivory Coast international Aurier said: "I made a big mistake, I am here to say sorry to the coach, the club and my team-mates, and to the supporters because they are the most important people.
"I want to apologise especially to the coach, I can only thank him for all he has done for me since I arrived in Paris.
"He wanted me and since I came here everything has gone really well. I owe him a lot and that is why I apologise sincerely to him for what was said, which I deeply regret.
"I will accept any sanction the club impose on me regarding this incident. I made a mistake, it was unforgivable and I am ready to face all the consequences."
It is not the first time Aurier has found himself in trouble due to comments on social media.
He was banned for three games by UEFA after last season's Champions League game against Chelsea, following a video posted on Facebook in which he labelled referee Bjorn Kuipers a "dirty son of a b****" over the sending-off of team-mate Ibrahimovic.
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