OM: Aubameyang, the joke that goes wrong

Fabien Le Floc’h, Media365: published on Saturday, May 09, 2026 at 10:27

L’Olympique de Marseille has decided to expel Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the 33rd round of Ligue 1. The forward sprayed Bob Tahri with a fire extinguisher during the team’s stay at La Commanderie on Thursday night.

Unfortunately, the season for Olympique de Marseille is turning out to be historic, but not for the right reasons. After a humiliating defeat in Nantes last week (3-0), the OM management decided to impose a week-long team bonding session at the training center before their match against Le Havre on Sunday night (9 PM) in the 33rd round of Ligue 1.

This particular team bonding session did not sit well with the players. Perhaps that’s why on Thursday night, around ten of them decided to cause a ruckus at La Commanderie, under the leadership of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? The supposed leader of the disturbance, the 36-year-old forward, has been excluded from the Marseille squad for the trip to Normandy, which is crucial if OM wants to secure a European spot and salvage something from this chaotic end to the season.

Aubameyang wanted to “liven things up”

According to RMC and L’Equipe, Aubameyang allegedly used a fire extinguisher to spray Bob Tahri, a representative of the sports management and in charge of enforcing curfew at La Commanderie, on his bed and personal belongings. The former 3000-meter steeplechase champion did not appreciate the prank at all and reported the incident to his superiors. Despite the Gabonese international’s apologies, claiming he just wanted to “liven things up,” the presidents of OM, interim Alban Juster and future Stéphane Richard, decided to discipline Aubameyang after meeting with the group on Friday.

Therefore, it is without their experienced striker (9 goals in Ligue 1 this season) that the Marseille team will attempt to secure a victory in Le Havre, who are looking to secure their spot in the league in this penultimate round. OM is coming off three consecutive away defeats in the league, against Monaco (2-1), Lorient (2-0), and Nantes (3-0). To avoid missing out on European competition next season, Marseille must avoid a fourth straight loss.