"I Thought Strasbourg Was in Germany" - French Club Suspends Captain Over Comments

French club Strasbourg has announced the suspension of its captain and star, Emanuel Emegha. The player will miss the team's upcoming Ligue 1 match against Toulouse.

A statement from the club indicated that the decision was made "following the player's recent failure to adhere to the club's values, expectations, and rules," emphasizing "a reaffirmation of its commitment to the fundamental principles of exemplary conduct and respect for the collective framework."

The statement also noted that "Emanuel remains an important member of our squad and has always given his best for the club on the pitch," adding that he "will be reintegrated into the group after this match, and no further comment will be made."

While the statement did not specify the exact reasons for the suspension, media reports, including those from L'Equipe, revealed that the club's management was dissatisfied with several public statements made by the 22-year-old Dutch player.

Among the comments cited was his response after a victory over Lille, where Emegha jokingly suggested that his absence from the pitch was why Strasbourg had not been able to defeat other big clubs this season, such as Monaco, Rennes, Paris, and Lyon.

He had also previously stated: "I didn't even know where Strasbourg was located… I thought it was in Germany."

Following a meeting held a few days ago, the sanction was imposed on the player, who broke his silence by posting a message on his Instagram account. He stated: "I accept and understand the club's decision to suspend me from playing this weekend. I am 22 years old, I have made mistakes, and I know I have a lot to learn, and I must learn from this. I know I need to perform better, and I will do so, both on and off the pitch to represent the club. This is important to me."

He added: "I want to make it clear that I did not intend to hurt anyone. Since I arrived here at 19, I have always given my all for Strasbourg. I am proud to play for Racing and proud to wear the captain's armband. Everyone knows it wasn't easy for me here at first; it was a big challenge for me to succeed at Strasbourg. But I continued to work hard every day to achieve it."