PSG vs Chelsea: Serge Aurier branded 'pathetic' by his manager Laurent Blanc after defender's homophobic insult

Aurier appeared in a video released on Friday in which he insulted Blac as well as a number of his team-mates

Aurier has been suspended indefinitely by PSG over offensive comments he made (Getty)

Laurent Blanc has branded Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier as “pitiful” after the French club’s Qatari owners suspended the player in the wake of a homophobic insult directed at Blanc during a supporter Q&A on Periscope.

Aurier, an Ivory Coast international, will miss Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie against Chelsea in Paris as a result of an internal investigation into the incident.

Nasser al-Khelaifi, the PSG chairman, expressed the anger of the club’s Qatari hierarchy in a statement condemning Aurier on Monday.

“I took the decision to suspend Serge Aurier,” Al-Khelaifi said. “Paris Saint-Germain is a very strong institution which nobody can touch and this video, filmed in a private setting, clearly contains unacceptable comments about team-mates and especially coach Laurent Blanc.

“PSG wishes to express its fullest support to coach Blanc and to the players who have rightly felt offended by Aurier’s remarks.”

But while PSG moved swiftly to address the matter – Aurier is understood to be facing the possibility of his contract being terminated by the Ligue 1 leaders – a clearly angry Blanc condemned the player when asked about his conduct during a pre-match press conference at the Stade de France ahead of the Chelsea tie.

PSG manager Lauren Blanc speaks to the media on Monday (Getty Images)

“How did I react?” Blanc said. “Very badly. Very badly

“We can think whatever we like – this is a democracy and we are free to think about things, have our opinions – but that guy, that boy.... two years ago, I committed myself to make him come to Paris, and seeing what I saw yesterday, that's all the thanks I got.

“That's pitiful. Pathetic. I won't say more, because I'm here to talk about the Chelsea game, a very important match, but he has penalised himself.

“He should have been preparing today for a last 16 round game in the Champions League. That would have been better than staying at home not knowing what to do.

“It's bad for him, but it's bad for the club because i's penalised the club.

“He can do what he wants and handle the consequences, but he has penalised the club: through the image he's given, and what he said.”

Aurier, who also directed insults at team-mates Zlatan Ibrahimovic, goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and full-back Gregory van der Wiel, faces a battle to win over a dressing-room with several senior players understood to unwilling to play alongside the 23-year-old again.

But an in an attempt to display contrition, the right-back issued a video apology for his actions.

“I made a big mistake, I am here to say sorry to the coach, the club and my team-mates, and to the supporters because they are the most important people," he said.

A Periscope user watching Serge Aurier's video released on Friday in which he made offensive remarks about his team-mates and manager Laurent Blanc (Getty Images)

“I want to apologise especially to the coach, I can only thank him for all he has done for me since I arrived in Paris. He wanted me and since I came here everything has gone really well. I owe him a lot and that is why I apologise sincerely to him for what was said, which I deeply regret.

“I will accept any sanction the club impose on me regarding this incident. I made a mistake, it was unforgivable and I am ready to face all the consequences.”