Monaco Star Faces Disciplinary Action After ‘Throat-Slitting’ Celebration

Monaco forward Paris Brunner has been referred to French football’s disciplinary authorities after celebrating a goal against Strasbourg with a gesture mimicking a throat being cut towards home supporters.

The 20-year-old says the celebration followed insults directed at his mother and father from sections of the Strasbourg crowd.

Brunner subsequently apologised.

He described the gesture as “clumsy”, said he had not intended to be disrespectful and accepted that he should not have done it.

France’s National Council for Ethics and Professional Conduct has nevertheless referred the incident for disciplinary consideration.

The council says Brunner’s apology does not remove the possibility that his behaviour breached football’s requirements around respect, exemplary conduct and self-control.

Abuse explains the reaction. It doesn’t necessarily excuse it.

Players are expected to tolerate levels of hostility that would be unacceptable in most workplaces.

Abuse aimed at someone’s family makes that considerably harder.

If Brunner’s account is accurate, it provides relevant context for why a 20-year-old player reacted emotionally in the seconds after scoring.

The disciplinary authorities still have to decide whether that context mitigates a gesture directed back towards supporters that could reasonably be interpreted as threatening.

Brunner has already accepted that he crossed the line.

The remaining question is how heavily French football decides to punish him for crossing it.