Nigeria: Taiwo Faces Disciplinary Hearing May 5

Daily Independent (Lagos)

27 April 2011

Super Eagles defender Taye Taiwo faces a French League (LFP) disciplinary hearing on 5 May for using foul language after a match.

A report on BBC Sports says, Taiwo could be suspended if found guilty, while his team-mate Stephane Mbia of Cameroon has also been summoned to the hearing.

The Nigerian chanted an anti-Paris St Germain song containing an expletive after their League Cup final win last Saturday.

Taiwo scored Marseille’s goal in their 1-0 defeat of Montpellier at the Stade de France.

After the team were presented with the trophy, he took a microphone and sang, along with fans, a song aimed at arch-rivals PSG.

The Nigerian defender Taiwo said on Sunday that he was sorry for his actions.

“I want to apologise for what I have sung at the Stade de France,” he said.

“All my team mates told me it was not a good thing to do and that it hurt their feelings. I now also feel bad to have done that.

“I was euphoric, we had just won and we were singing… Once again, I apologise.”

His coach at Marseille, Didier Deschamps, said the player had made a mistake.

“He’s made a huge blunder but he didn’t think it would reach such proportions – he knows it now and he’s very sorry,” the coach said.

Taiwo could be suspended by the disciplinary commission, which would be a blow to reigning champions Marseille, who are just behind league leaders Lille in the standings.

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