One swing of the arm turned Monaco’s late relief into a disciplinary issue on Saturday night. The 20-year-old Monaco forward, who rescued a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg with the equaliser, has been referred to the league’s disciplinary authorities after making a throat-cutting gesture towards the home end.
SEO Title: Monaco forward faces disciplinary review after Strasbourg celebration
SEO Description: Monaco’s 20-year-old attacker has apologised after his throat-cutting gesture following the equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Strasbourg.
Equaliser followed by angry reaction
The Monaco summer signing struck to bring his side level against Strasbourg, but his celebration provoked immediate anger among the Alsatian supporters.
The player later said the gesture was made in a moment of emotion after he heard insults aimed at members of his family from the stands.
- Monaco drew 1-1 away to Strasbourg on Saturday.
- The young attacker scored Monaco’s equalising goal.
- He then mimed a throat-cutting action in front of Strasbourg supporters.
- The 20-year-old has since offered an apology while denying any intention to disrespect the crowd.
Ethics body refers case to disciplinary commission
The National Ethics Council has decided to refer the matter itself, meaning no complaint or report from the referee or match delegate was required before the process began.
Its president Frédéric Thiriez said the body had the power to initiate such a case on its own. He said the gesture appeared, at first sight, capable of breaching the principle of exemplary conduct set out in the ethics charter.
Thiriez stressed that the Ethics Council would not rule on guilt or punishment. That decision will be left to the disciplinary commission, which will assess the incident and determine whether a sanction is warranted.
Possible suspension and player’s explanation
Under Article 4 of the disciplinary regulations, behaviour classed as excessive or inappropriate can lead to a one-match ban. If the commission instead regards the action as intimidating or threatening under Article 8, the suspension could reach four matches.
The Monaco player insisted he had not intended to send a hostile message. “The supporters spoke about my family, my mother and my father,” he said after the match. “I could see the people who were insulting me. There was a lot of emotion, especially after a shot like that.”
He added: “I did not mean to be disrespectful. I would not say that I regret it, but it was not the message I wanted to send. It was misunderstood. What I meant was: what a goal, it is over.”
