Serge Aurier: PSG defender under investigation for throat-slitting gesture

The right-back made the gesture during Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifier victory over Mali last weekend

Serge Aurier in action for Ivory Coast last weekend (Getty)

Paris Saint Germain defender Serge Aurier is under investigation by Fifa after appearing to make a throat-slitting gesture to supporters.

The Ivory Coast right-back made it 2-1 in his side’s World Cup qualifier against Mali last weekend after his deflected shot found the back of the net.

But as Aurier charged to supporters to celebrate, the Ivorian appeared to run his finger across his neck to make a throat-slitting gesture.

A “preliminary investigation is under way” as a result, even though the defender was praised for “saving the life” of Mali forward Moussa Doumbia during the same match.

After Doumbi was knocked unconscious in a challenge with Sunderland’s Lamine Kone, Aurier stepped in quickly to prevent the Rostov player from swallowing his own tongue.

Mali manager Alain Giresse said he spoke to Aurier after the 2018 World Cup qualifier to thank him for his "superb reactions".

Giresse said: “All the players realised that Doumbia was choking and was about to swallow his tongue.

“That’s when Aurier, with one of our players, quickly put him on his side and pulled out his tongue, because he was about to lose his life.”

Despite his heroics, this isn’t the first time the defender has been embroiled in controversy.

The 23-year-old was sentenced to two months in jail last month for elbowing a police offer - but remains free pending an appeal.

In February, he was suspended by PSG after appearing to use homophobic language to insult former manager Laurent Blanc.

He also called teammate Angel di Maria a “clown” on social media.