October 19 – A French second division player has denied biting the cheek of an opposition goalkeeper, declaring instead that he had been racially abused.
Sochaux’s Senegalese midfielder Ousseynou Thioune (pictured) was accused by Valenciennes goalkeeper Jerome Prior of sinking his teeth into his cheek following Saturday’s goalless draw. Thioune counters Prior had made comments about his skin colour.
Thioune claims that as they walked off the pitch he complained to Prior about his alleged racist language. He says the goalkeeper then repeated the insult.
“On that second occasion, I said to him ‘let’s go outside and we’ll sort this out’. It’s true that I put my head against his cheek and yes, I was angry, I wanted to headbutt him,” Thioune told L’Est Republicain newspaper. “But when I thought about it, I withdrew. There was no bite.”
Valenciennes president Eddy Zdziech told AFP he had no doubt that Thioune had bitten his player.
“It is really regrettable. We mustn’t play it down or deny it. I have spoken to Jerome and he has a really big bite on his cheek. He was bleeding,” said Zdziech. “This sort of behaviour is serious and it must be eradicated.”
If the claims of either player are proven, both could face disciplinary action from the French league.
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