Toulouse striker Zakaria Aboukhlal will be training alone while an investigation is conducted into an alleged altercation with a local official, according to the club.
Aboukhlal reportedly had a run-in with Laurence Arribage, Toulouse’s deputy mayor and head of sports, at a ceremony celebrating the club’s French Cup final victory against Nantes, as reported by RMC Sport.
Arribage stated that the incident was exaggerated after she asked the players to remain quiet during the ceremony, adding that “the players do not like being told to keep quiet like this,” according to French multimedia outlet RMC Sport.
Toulouse’s official statement read: “In response to the serious allegations published by RMC Sport against Toulouse Football Club player Zakaria Aboukhlal, the club has announced that the player will train away from the professional squad until further notice, pending the results of an internal investigation.”
Aboukhlal was one of the players from Toulouse who did not participate in a league-wide campaign against homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia that took place last weekend. The Morocco defender defended his decision on Twitter, citing respect as a value that he holds in high regard, including for his own personal beliefs.
“Hence, I don’t believe I am the most suitable person to participate in this campaign,” he wrote on Twitter.