Future Chelsea player suspended by current club as statement released
Emmanuel Emegha has been suspended for one game by Strasbourg – just months before he is set to join Chelsea.
The Dutch striker will make the move to Stamford Bridge in the summer, after signing a pre-agreement September.
Emegha will sign a seven-year deal with the Blues, who swooped to steal him from their sister club, with the aim of him solving their long-term striker conundrum.
But question marks may already be raised over the 22-year-old before he kicks a ball in west London following a recent disciplinary issue.
What have Strasbourg said about Emegha?
Strasbourg revealed in a statement on Wednesday that they have suspended the striker for one game – their league clash against Toulouse on Saturday.
Citing the reason behind this, the French outfit said Emegha had failed to respect ‘the values, expectations and rules’ of the club.
The statement read: “Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace has decided to suspend Emmanuel Emegha for its next Ligue 1 match, this Saturday December 6 in Toulouse.
“This decision was taken following the player’s recent failure to respect the club’s values, expectations and rules.
“Racing reaffirms its commitment to the essential principles of exemplary conduct and respect for the collective framework.
“Emmanuel remains an important member of our team, who has always given his all for the club on the pitch. He will be reintegrated into the squad after this match
“No further comments will be made.”
While Strasbourg confirmed the disciplinary action, the club gave no specific details as to why Emegha had been sanctioned.
But according to French publication L’Equipe, the suspension stems from recent comments made by Emegha in the media.
After he scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Lille, the 22-year-old reportedly implied in a post-match interview that his side’s defeats to Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain this season had been due to his absence from those games.
Meanwhile, the Sun report that another interview also caused a stir, this time during the international break shortly after his first-ever call up to the Netherlands’ senior team.
Speaking to a Dutch media outlet, he claimed to have thought Strasbourg was in Germany before he signed for the club in 2023.
Given the area’s sensitive history, this wasn’t well received within the club, especially considering Emegha is captain.
A final decision was reached on his punishment after conversations between the player and manager Liam Rosenior, club president Marc Keller and the side’s sporting director.
Emegha has scored seven goals in 11 appearances this season, with his most recent strike coming in a UEFA Conference League win against Crystal Palace last month.
Nicknamed the ‘next Zlatan‘ in reference to the Sweden icon, the striker has faced criticism from the Strasbourg fans in recent times for opting to join Chelsea, with BlueCo owner Todd Boehly‘‘s acquisition of the French side proving controversial.
Emegha responds
Shortly after Strasbourg announced his suspension, Emegha spoke out on the news, and revealed he had accepted his punishment.
In a statement released on Instagram, he wrote: “I accept and understand the club’s decision to suspend me for this weekend.
“I’m 22-years-old, I’ve made mistakes and I know I still have a lot to learn. And I have to learn from this. I know I need to do better, and I will do better, on the pitch and off it, to represent the club. That’s important to me.
“I want to make it clear that I never intended to hurt anyone. Since I arrived here at 19, I have always given everything for Strasbourg. I’m proud to play for Racing and I’m proud to wear the captain’s armband.”
After thanking the club’s supporters for the reception they gave him in their last match – a 2-1 defat to Brest – Emegha paid tribute to senior staff members at the club, including Keller and Rosenior.
He continued: “I had a long conversation with President Marc Keller.
“We spoke honestly, I thank him for his advice. He knows how much I love this club and how hard I work every day.
“I also want to thank all my teammates and the staff, coach Liam Rosenior, sporting director David Weir, and everyone around the team. They see me every day, they know who I am and how I work.
“Sometimes my words can be misunderstood, especially if you don’t know me. But one thing is certain: I have the utmost respect for Strasbourg, for Alsace, for La Meinau, for our supporters, for my teammates, and for the entire club.
“On Saturday, I’ll be behind the team like a supporter at 200 per cent.”
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