Paris FC manager Liam Rosenior‘s exuberant post-match celebrations against former side Strasbourg incited a scuffle between the coach and Strasbourg players.
Rosenior’s Paris FC beat Strasbourg 2-1 at home on Saturday. The English coach, who spent 18 months at Strasbourg prior to joining Chelsea last year, could be seen pointing his finger, slapping his chest and raising his arms towards the travelling fans after the final whistle.
Within moments, Strasbourg players walked over to confront Rosenior before members of the Paris FC squad sprinted over to lend support to their manager. A shoving match between the two sets of players ensued, with Rosenior in the middle of the fracas.
After the match, Rosenior said that his enthusiastic celebrations had been a result of being provoked by sections of the Strasbourg fanbase, who he claimed had insulted his family.
The 42-year-old said: ‘(There was a small part of the Strasbourg) support who disrespected my family. I understand the context of what they were saying. My bench were visibly upset.
‘I want to make this very clear: a small section. Strasbourg is a fantastic football club, with great people who work for the club, and great people who support the club.
The English coach slapped his chest and raised his arms towards the Strasbourg fans after the final whistle
A shoving match between the two sets of players ensued, with Rosenior caught in the middle of the fracas
‘For me to celebrate in that way was a message. A message to a group of people who never wanted me to be successful at that club. But I’m not going to say any more than that.’
Rosenior also addressed the incident in a post-match interview with Ligue 1+.
‘The people in the club (Strasbourg) who know me know I’ve always been respectful, I’ve always wanted the best for that football club,’ he said. ‘I still do want the best for that football club.
‘But when I heard the chants – I understand French, I understand the context, the language – that’s a step too far.
‘It’s a wonderful football club, it’s a great city, it’s a club with great tradition, I’ve always protected those traditions.
‘So for me to celebrate in the way that I did was for many reasons. Many reasons.’
Paris FC clinched a deserved win at the Stade Jean-Bouin through goals from Ilan Kebbal and Pablo Pagis, despite conceding a late own goal by Moustapha Mbow.
It was another step in a positive start to the season, with Paris FC having won three and drawn two of their opening five matches to sit third in Ligue 1, two points behind table-toppers Monaco.
