Former Liverpool and Crystal Palace centre-back Mamadou Sakho “physically attacked” his manager on Tuesday, the French press has claimed.
According to L’Equipe, Sakho, now of Montpellier, was incensed during Tuesday’s training session at the club’s Grammont centre.
The centre-back, who has been restricted to just six minutes of Ligue 1 football this term, was allegedly furious after not being awarded a foul by his manager Michel Der Zakarian.
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In turn, the 33-year-old is said to have furiously stormed off the pitch.
The French publication claimed that an unimpressed Der Zakarian subsequently scolded Sakho as he departed the pitch, saying it was not up to the veteran defender to decide how and when he should train.
Sakho is said to have hit back, insisting he had been a peaceful presence within the squad despite a severe lack of minutes.
L’Equipe claimed that Der Zakarian’s “derogatory” response then ignited a brawl, with Sakho allegedly grabbing his manager by the collar and making him fall to the floor.
Moreover, Ligue 1 insider Mohamed Toubache-Ter claimed on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter, that Der Zakarian called Sakho a “cry-baby" which led to the defender kicking his manager to the floor and breaking his necklace - a family heirloom.
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Responding to L’Equipe’s claim, Toubache-Ter said: “You are very quick & what you relay in this brief is TRUE.
“MDZ said 'Mamad, you are a crybaby' Mamad Sakho [attacked] him and broke the family chain that the coach wears around his neck... which provoked immense anger from the coach.”
Speaking to L’Equipe Der Zakarian claimed that he had “nothing to say” on the matter. The outlet added that the training ground brawl was likely to be the last straw for Sakho, who is entering the final year of his contract at Montpellier.
The former Paris Saint-Germain academy star may allegedly even be dismissed by Montpellier for serious misconduct.
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SPORTbible has approached Montpellier for comment on the situation.
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Chris Byfield