A Marseille player has been suspended for wishing his teammate a happy birthday on social media.
18-year-old Rayan Hassad's post appeared to be an innocent one as he wished former Newcastle and Porto defender Chancel Mbemba a happy birthday on his Instagram story.
But Mbemba is actually currently serving a suspension from Marseille after being accused of demonstrating "poor behaviour" towards management during training.
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And according to La Provence, via Get French Football News, Hassad's message to the 30-year-old proved to be "the final straw".
There had been previous issues with Hassad, who is yet to make his first-team debut for the club and usually represents the reserve side.
He received a letter from the club where his birthday shoutout was referenced, as well as a claim he insulted a teammate and refused to follow instructions from a member of staff.
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Hassad himself responded to the suspension, confirming he had been banned as a "precautionary measure" and apologising while stressing there was no intention to "hurt someone".
“I was indeed suspended as a precautionary measure by Olympique de Marseille following an Instagram story where I wished a teammate a happy birthday," he wrote.
“I would like to clarify that at no time did I want to cause harm to my club and its management. It was a simple birthday message, as I usually do with other teammates. If I hurt someone, I apologise but know that this was never my intention.”
Mbemba had been playing regularly and helped Marseille reach the semi finals of the Europa League last season.
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Yet he was deemed to be surplus to requirements by new manager Roberto De Zerbi upon his arrival at the Stade de Veledrome.
Told to find a new club, Mbemba was forced to train with the reserves before the training ground incident and subsequent suspension.
Josh Lawless