A somber piece of news has emerged concerning Bobo Baldé, a name many Celtic fans know well. The former Hoops defender, who played over 160 games for the Glasgow club, was urgently admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Marseille last Friday night. This unexpected turn of events followed a troubling few days for the 49-year-old former Guinean international. Local newspaper ‘La Provence’ first reported on the incidents leading to his hospitalization.
Baldé had reportedly been seen for three consecutive days at a public primary school in Marseille. His presence, coupled with “disturbing comments” he made during this time, quickly raised alarms. Both school staff and parents grew increasingly worried, which eventually led to local police intervention.
According to ‘La Provence’, Baldé appeared near the Ecole Accates la Valentine last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. During these visits, he reportedly told people many times that he had a crucial mission to complete before his death. These unsettling remarks, coming from a man once known for his powerful play on the pitch, certainly caused a stir among those present.
Baldé was a key player in Celtic’s famous journey to the 2003 UEFA Cup final in Seville, where they faced FC Porto. But his recent actions at the school took a shocking turn. Following these “disturbing comments,” he was intentionally hit by a car and then punched. This assault happened at the hands of two parents who were present near the school grounds.
Marseille police initially questioned Baldé as the victim of an assault, given he had been run over and beaten. However, after these discussions, authorities made the decision to transport him urgently to a psychiatric unit. He is currently still receiving care there.
A police source spoke to ‘La Provence’, with their comments later picked up by ‘The Sun’. The officer described Baldé as “a very nice person.” Yet, they added that he started to make “somewhat incoherent comments,” even while at the police station. Interestingly, Baldé chose not to press charges against the parents involved in the assault. He apparently felt his own actions might have caused worry among the students’ parents, and that was his stated reason.
Adding to the mystery, ‘La Provence’ confirmed that Bobo Baldé does not even have children attending the Ecole Accates la Valentine. To help calm the situation, police officers were deployed to the educational institution. Their job was to reassure both the school staff and the parents of the children, ensuring everyone felt safe after the unsettling events.