Strasbourg suspends striker Emmanuel Emegha for one game – Winnipeg Free Press

Strasbourg suspended striker Emmanuel Emega for one game on Wednesday for disrespecting the Ligue 1 club's “values, expectations and rules”.

Strasbourg announced the decision in a statement, without going into detail, but said Emega would return for the next game.

“This decision was made following the player's recent disrespect for the club's values, expectations and rules,” the statement said. “Emmanuel remains an important member of our team, who has always given his all to the club on the pitch. He will be reinstated after this match.”

Strasbourg travel to play Toulouse in the French league on Saturday before traveling to Scotland to face Aberdeen in the Europa Conference League on December 11.

French sports newspaper L'Equipe said the decision was made following recent media comments by Emega, who is the club's captain.

In a post-match interview last month after he scored twice in a 2-0 win over Lille, he hinted that Strasbourg had not beaten Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain this season because he did not play in those games.

In another interview with a Dutch publication, the Dutch striker said he believed Strasbourg were in Germany when he was set to join the club two years ago.

Emega, 22, impressed last season, scoring 14 goals as Alsatian side Strasbourg finished seventh. This season he has four goals in seven games and three goals in European competition.

Strasbourg qualified for the Europa Conference League after beating Denmark's Brøndby in the play-offs, with Emega scoring twice in the return leg.

In September, Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior criticized fans who displayed a banner criticizing Emega and calling for him to return the captain's armband over his move to Premier League side Chelsea next season.

Strasbourg has been owned by Chelsea's BlueCo ownership group since 2023.