Taiwo Summoned After Final Rant

Nigeria international Taye Taiwo has been summoned to a May 5 hearing by National Ethics Council (CNE) to explain his foul-mouthed outburst at the League Cup final, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced Wednesday.

Taiwo scored the winning goal as league champions Marseille beat Montpellier 1-0 to win the trophy last weekend.

But moments after the triumph the big defender went from hero to villain as he grabbed a microphone and unleashed a verbal volley at Marseille’s bitter league rivals Paris Saint Germain.

As Taiwo celebrated near the Marseille fans he was heard proclaiming: “Marseille are coming up to Paris to (expletive) PSG.”

The next day France’s Professional Football League (LFP) said it would probe Taiwo’s behaviour, which has now reached the CNE.

Teammate Stephane Mbia has also been summoned to the hearing for the role he played in the incident.

Taiwo has since made a public apology to PSG via Marseille’s television channel, and widened that apology in a press release Monday.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said: “He shouldn’t have done that. He’s made a huge blunder, but he didn’t think it would reach such proportions.

“He knows it now, and is very sorry.”

Marseille are only two points behind league leaders Lille, with a game in hand.

Losing Taiwo, one of Marseille’s most influential players, to a ban could theoretically damage their chances of defending the league title