Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been dropped from Marseille's squad for their Ligue 1 clash against Le Havre following a bizarre training-ground prank that went too far. The former Arsenal striker was involved in a late-night incident at the club's training facility, where a fire extinguisher was allegedly used on sporting co-ordinator Bob Tahri.
According to reports from La Provence, the atmosphere had already been tense before the situation escalated into a wider commotion. Rooms were left in disarray, and duffel-bag battles broke out among players. Among those named in the group were Geronimo Rulli, Facundo Medina, Benjamin Pavard, and Quinten Timber—brother of Arsenal's Jurrien Timber—with Aubameyang identified as the player who sprayed Tahri.
However, accounts of the incident vary. Around the Marseille camp, it was claimed that Medhi Benatia was the intended target, not Tahri. From Aubameyang's perspective, it was described as a joke that simply got out of hand, with Tahri initially joining in the fun. The episode was ultimately not treated as an aggressive one, though one club official initially described it that way before backtracking.
The club took the matter seriously enough for interim president Alban Juster and incoming president Stéphane Richard to visit the training ground on Friday. Aubameyang reportedly considered issuing a public statement but decided against it to avoid inflaming the situation. He has since apologized to Tahri, the presidents, and Benatia.
"He made a fool of himself, got hit on the fingers, and apologized. This story could have been settled internally," a source close to the players told La Provence.
Aubameyang is expected to miss only the Le Havre match, with the punishment likely to be lifted before Marseille host Rennes. But his longer-term future at the club remains uncertain. Despite being under contract until 2027, reports suggest a summer departure is now more likely than ever, especially after Marseille failed to qualify for the Champions League. The Gabon international's time in the south of France may be drawing to a close—and not in the way anyone expected.
