Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (36) has been dropped from the squad for Olympique Marseille’s upcoming Ligue 1 match against Le Havre following a bizarre prank involving a fire extinguisher, according to a report from L’Équipe.
Whether the incident was meant as a joke or an act of malice remains unclear. The report claims that on Thursday evening, a group of ten “boisterous” players were roaming the training center, where the OM squad was staying as part of a midweek training camp. Aubameyang is said to have been the ringleader, with his actions going further than the others.
The Gabonese striker allegedly caused “chaotic fun” in several rooms, likely without harmful intent. However, Bouabdellah “Bob” Tahri, a team manager at OM, took serious offense. Tahri, a former track and field athlete, is responsible for enforcing the players’ curfew. According to the report, Aubameyang entered Tahri’s room with a fire extinguisher and sprayed the official, his bed, and his belongings. Tahri then reported the incident to club management.
When interim president Alban Juster and president-elect Stéphane Richard sought to assess the situation on Friday, Aubameyang apologized, explaining that he only intended to “stir up a bit of trouble.”
Although Aubameyang is having a relatively modest season by his standards, the 36-year-old continues to find the net. He has scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists across Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League this campaign. His most prolific season remains 2015/16 with Borussia Dortmund, where he netted 40 goals in all competitions. During four and a half years at Arsenal, he also reached double figures in every season except the first half of 2021/22. After scoring 30 goals for OM in 2023/24, he spent a year at Saudi club Al-Qadsiah before returning to Marseille for the 2025/26 season. He is under contract until the summer of 2027.
