Locker room scuffles happen. They’re often kept quiet, just part of the competitive world of sports. But in Marseille, a recent clash between players Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe has spilled into the open. It keeps feeding news stories in France.
This past week, a new voice entered the debate. Véronique Rabiot, Adrien’s mother and also his agent, spoke out. She stepped up to defend her son. And she had strong words for the club’s leadership. Marseille decided to put both Rabiot, the French midfielder, and Rowe, the English forward, on the transfer list.
Véronique Rabiot believes the club is making too much of the whole situation. She pointed out that neither player had to go to the hospital after the fight. It was a fight, she said, but not one that required emergency care.
“The Marseille president spoke of ‘violence never seen before’,” she told RTL. “What exactly does ‘violence never seen before’ even mean? Nobody got hurt. No one ended up in the hospital. There were no broken noses or split lips. Nobody needed stitches. No one is taking time off because of an injury. So, I don’t understand it.”
She pressed her point even further. “How can anyone believe there was a fight of such unprecedented violence, and nobody stepped in to stop it?” she asked. “I don’t believe any of this story. In fact, nobody believes this version of events.”
Despite Véronique’s powerful statements, the Marseille leadership is not changing its mind. They are still waiting for offers for both players. Club president Pablo Longoria has been very clear. He stated that these two players will not wear the club’s jersey again.