Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Apoula Edel is being blackmailed by his former coach and adviser Nicolas Philibert, the club’s sporting director Alain Roche said on Tuesday.
Philibert worked with Edel in Cameroon, where the player was born, and persuaded him to move to Armenia in 2002.
In a report in Tuesday’s edition of Le Parisien newspaper, Philibert claimed that Edel owes him 30,000 euros (US$44,000) but the naturalized Armenian international refuses to pay him.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Following this refusal, Philibert allegedly provided information to Saint-Etienne, PSG’s opponents on Sunday, that cast doubt on the goalkeeper’s true age and identity.
Saint-Etienne accordingly filed a complaint prior to their match at the Parc des Princes, which they lost 3-0 with Edel keeping goal for the home side.
“In 2000 and 2001 I was the coach [at Cameroonian side Espoirs de Yaounde] of Ambroise Beyamena [Edel’s real name, according to Philibert], who was 19 years old,” Philibert told France Bleu radio. “This player has behaved very badly towards me for four or five years.”
Philibert went on to allege that Edel has not settled outstanding debts between the two men.
“I visited him at his hotel in Montpellier before PSG’s match [on Aug. 8],” Philibert said.
“I told him that I was not happy with his behavior and he laughed in my face. I told him: ‘Wait until I denounce you for lying about your age and your identity.’ He was 19 in 2000, so he is 27 today,” he said.
PSG and the French Professional League officially list Edel’s date of birth as June 17, 1986, making him 23.
On Sunday, PSG president Robin Leproux lamented the reservations raised by Saint-Etienne ahead of the league game between the clubs.
“It is the act of club directors who have lost their nerve and their composure,” he said. “Regarding Edel, he has all his papers in order, approved by FIFA, passport etc.”
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Alex Michelsen on Thursday rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s singles, converting his seventh match point to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Michelsen reached the last 16 of a Masters 1000 for the first time with his second win over a top-10 player in eight attempts. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy’s Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. “It feels really good,” the 26th-ranked Michelsen said. “I’ve put