A racism controversy has erupted in French football involving former Premier League midfielder Didier Digard, now the manager of Le Havre, following a heated exchange between his player Simon Ebonog and Toulouse winger Aron Donnum.
The incident took place during the closing stages of Le Havre’s goalless draw against Toulouse, when Donnum appeared to wave his hand in front of his nose while facing Ebonog.
Digard and his club have condemned the gesture as “disgusting” and “unacceptable,” while Donnum has strongly denied any racist intent, insisting the movement was misinterpreted.
Speaking after the match, Digard, who played for Middlesbrough between 2008 and 2011, said the act went “beyond football” and questioned why it had not been reviewed by officials.
“I’m not going to interpret what someone is thinking, but at the very least, it’s an insult to my player,” he said.
“If we say it’s not about racism, then what is it? Is it just telling my player he stinks? Where some people come from, we know very well what that means.
“Letting it go unpunished, then penalising me for reporting it—that’s not addressing the real issue.”
The Le Havre coach, who was shown a yellow card for protesting to referee Jérémy Stinat, added: “Maybe he lost it, maybe he didn’t realise what was happening, I don’t want to speculate.
Didier Digard featured 23 times in the Premier League for Middlesbrough
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Didier Digard pictured during his time at Middlesbrough
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“My question is how we let this happen, how we tolerate it. Football is supposed to bring people together, not divide. This is disgusting.”
Donnum, however, has rejected any suggestion of racism, saying his actions were misunderstood.
“It’s crazy to say I’m racist,” he said, according to Le Monde.
“He came up to me, I could smell his breath, and it smelled bad. It has nothing to do with racism. It’s not the first time I’ve done this, and I know some of my teammates have done the same. It’s crazy to say it’s a racist gesture.”
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Le Havre have released a statement following their match with Toulouse
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Toulouse Football Club issued a statement defending their player, calling the accusations “unfounded and particularly serious.”
The club said: “Nothing could justify such allegations, which harm the integrity of the player and the image of our club.
“Toulouse FC condemns in the strongest possible terms the instrumentalisation of this gesture and reserves the right to take any necessary action to defend its player.
“The club remains deeply committed to the fight against all forms of discrimination and works every day for respectful, inclusive football both on and off the pitch.”
Le Havre also released their own statement, describing Ebonog as a “victim” and calling for the incident to be reviewed using VAR technology.
“The gesture of which our player was the victim has no place on a football pitch,” the club said.
“It was not sanctioned, which is surprising given the tools available to avoid such oversights. The HAC demands respect for its player and its coach, who was sanctioned merely for asking for an explanation.”
Toulouse have released a statement defending their player
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The controversy has dominated discussion across French football, with supporters and pundits divided over the interpretation of the gesture and whether further disciplinary action should follow.
Both clubs, currently in mid-table, have otherwise enjoyed stable campaigns since returning to Ligue 1.
Digard, now in his second season at Le Havre, has earned praise for his leadership and previously impressed during an interim spell at Nice.
Toulouse, meanwhile, continue to feature a young squad that includes England Under-21 defender Charlie Cresswell.
As the French football authorities review reports from the match officials, both clubs have reiterated their commitment to fair play and mutual respect—values they say must remain at the heart of the sport.
How the row plays out remains to be seen.