Chelsea youngster suspended after refusing to shake coach's hand

26 October 2023 , 15:21

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David Datro Fofana has been suspended by Union Berlin (Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

Chelsea starlet David Datro Fofana has reportedly been suspended by Union Berlin following an incident in their Champions League clash against Napoli on Tuesday.

Fofana is currently on loan with the Bundesliga side, but clashed with manager Urs Fischer after he was substituted during Union's 1-0 defeat to the reigning Serie A champions. As he left the field, Fofana refused to shake Fischer's hand.

Fischer was visibly annoyed with Fofana's reaction and the player appeared to break down in tears as he sat on the bench, with several of his teammates coming over to console him. After the game, the 20-year-old issued an apology on Instagram.

"Following my behaviour during my exit from the field, I wanted to apologise to the club, the coach, my team-mates and the supporters," he said.

"This gesture was not intended and in no way does it represent my attitude, all this was generated as a result of frustration because I wanted to continue helping the team to obtain a positive result.

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"We will continue to work and come back even stronger in the championship and in this great competition." When asked about the incident post-match, Fischer said: "There will be a talk. But I find it strange that this is the first question I get after such a great game from us."

Sky Germany are now reporting that Fofana has been suspended for a week and will therefore miss Union's Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen on Saturday and their DFB Pokal game against Stuttgart on Tuesday.

Fofana is said to have privately apologised in a meeting with Fischer and Union's managing director Oliver Runhert, but club spokesman Christian Arbeit has confirmed he will "train individually" until next Wednesday.

Chelsea paid an initial £8.7million to sign Fofana from Molde in January and he made four appearances for the Blues last season before being shipped out to Germany on loan in a bid to continue his development.

Fofana has made 11 appearances for Union across all competitions, but is yet to score a goal meaning he has not found the back of the net since last November when he scored a penalty for Molde as they beat Valerenga 2-1 in the Norwegian Eliteserien.

Matthew Cooper