Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Serge Aurier: PSG defender given two-month jail sentence for 'elbowing police officer' in Paris

Aurier denied the allegations and claimed to have been a victim of police violence

Mark Critchley
Monday 26 September 2016 12:45 BST
Comments
Serge Aurier arrives to the Paris courthouse for Monday's verdict
Serge Aurier arrives to the Paris courthouse for Monday's verdict (Getty)

Serge Aurier, the Paris Saint-Germain defender, has been sentenced to two months in jail for elbowing a police officer.

The Ivory Coast international was convicted on Monday, having committed the offence after being stopped to take a breath test in the early hours of 30 May.

Aurier, who was also fined €600 (£521), received a 'convertible' sentence which will probably result in community service rather than jail time.

The 23-year-old right-back, who impressed during his side's 1-1 Champions League draw with Arsenal a fortnight ago, will also remain free pending an appeal.

Aurier denied committing the offence, which police said took place after the defender left a nightclub in the Champs Elysses area of Paris.

His lawyer, Claire Boutard de la Combe, confirmed that Aurier would be appealing the charge, saying: "We're appealing. Mr Aurier contests the findings. He's not guilty and must be acquitted."

Aurier has also claimed that he was a victim of police violence during the incident, telling French television in June: "It was violent. The police officers got out of the car, insulted me, brutalised me, my lip was smashed.

"What's even worse is that the police officer said I had elbowed him in the thorax. If I wanted to touch him, I would have punched him in the face. He did though, strike me several times in the face."

A controversial figure at the Parc des Princes, Aurier was suspended by the Ligue 1 club earlier year after making homophobic comments about Laurent Blanc, the then-PSG manager.

Aurier also called team-mate Angel di Maria a "clown" in a Q&A session on social media platform Periscope, before apologising to both Blanc and his team-mates for his actions.

Arsenal's second group stage game against PSG is set to be played on Wednesday 23 November at the Emirates.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in