RC Strasbourg Alsace have announced that they have suspended their striker and captain Emmanuel Emegha for the upcoming match against Toulouse.
The decision was “taken following the player’s recent failure to comply with the club’s values, expectations and rules,” stated a press release issued by the club on Wednesday. “Racing reaffirm their commitment to the essential principles of exemplary behaviour and respect for the collective framework. Emmanuel remains an important member of our team, who has always given his all for the club on the pitch. He will be reinstated to the squad after this match. No further comment will be made.”
Although no real details have been revealed as to the reasons behind this decision, comments made by the new Dutch international in an interview with Algemeen Dagblad could well be the cause.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know where that (Strasbourg) was. I thought it was in Germany, but it turned out to be in France. Well, I think everyone knows Strasbourg now,” said the 22-year-old player.
Emegha acknowledges his wrongdoing and apologises
A controversy to which Emegha felt compelled to respond, speaking out on his social media accounts. “l accept and understand the club’s decision to suspend me for this weekend. I’m 22 years old, I’ve made mistakes, and I know I still have a lot to learn,” he recognized.
“I have to learn from this. I know I need to do better, and I will do better, on the pitch and off it, to represent the club. Thats important to me. I want to make it clear that I never intended to hurt anyone. Since l arrived here at 19, I have always given everything for Strasbourg. I’m proud to play for Racing and Im proud to wear the captains armband.
“Everyone knows it wasn’t easy for me here at the start It was a big challenge for me to succeed in Strasbourg. But I kept working hard every day to get there. Last weekend, when I stepped onto the pitch, it was the biggest emotion Ive ever felt as a Strasbourg player. The applause when I came on, the kids cheering me during the warm-up… it truly moved me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“I had a long conversation with President Marc Keller: We spoke honestly. I thank him for his advice. He knows how much I love this club and how hard I work every day. I also want to thank all my teammates and the staff, coach Liam Rosenior, sporting director David Weir, and everyone around the team. They see me every day, they know who I am and how I work.
“Sometimes my words can be misunderstood, especially if you don’t know me. But one thing is certain: I have the utmost respect for Strasbourg, for Alsace, for La Meinau, for our supporters, for my teammates, and for the entre club. On Saturday, I’ll be behind the team like a supporter at 200%.”
Transferred to Strasbourg from Sturm Graz in the summer of 2023, Emegha quickly established himself as a key player in Liam Rosenior’s team. With eight goals in his first season and 14 in the following one, the future Chelsea player, who has missed nine games due to injury since the start of the 2025-26 season, still boasts impressive statistics, having already scored seven goals and provided two assists in 11 appearances in all competitions.
