Strasbourg coach criticises home fans who raised banner against club striker Emegha

Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior criticized a section of the club's fans for displaying a banner that targeted captain Emanuel Emegha over his impending move to Chelsea. The banner, shown during a Ligue 1 match against Le Havre, referred to Emegha as a "pawn of BlueCo" and demanded he return the captain's armband.

Rosenior expressed strong disapproval, stating that both he and Emegha were "devastated" by the incident. He emphasized that Emegha, who had just posted a video of himself signing with Chelsea, would retain the captaincy for the season and described the treatment as "unacceptable."

Emegha, a 22-year-old Dutch forward, was a key player for Strasbourg last season, scoring 14 league goals and helping the team secure a seventh-place finish and qualification for the Europa Conference League. His contributions included a brace in the playoff victory over Bröndby.

The tension stems from Strasbourg's ownership by BlueCo, Chelsea's ownership group, since 2023. This partnership has facilitated player transfers between the clubs, such as the recent move of Ben Chilwell from Chelsea to Strasbourg. Rosenior acknowledged that while a minority of fans are unhappy, the team remains focused on a pivotal season.