Marseille Suspend Rabiot and Rowe After Violent Dressing Room Brawl

Olympique de Marseille has suspended midfielder Adrien Rabiot and winger Jonathan Rowe from the first team after the pair were involved in a violent physical altercation following the club’s 1-0 league defeat to Stade Rennais.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed the decision on Friday, stating the two players had a dressing room bust-up that he described as being “like in an English pub fight,” which reportedly left a teammate unconscious. Neither player will be available for Saturday’s match against Paris FC.

The confrontation is said to have occurred after Rabiot accused Rowe of a lack of commitment during the loss, a match Marseille played with a man advantage for the entire second half. According to reports, insults were exchanged before the argument escalated into a fight in front of the squad.

“A clear decision was made—to remove the players from the squad while waiting to see how they feel,” De Zerbi told reporters. “In a football club, as everywhere else, there must be a hierarchy. The club comes first. It was the right thing for the club to do.”

The manager defended the club’s disciplinary action as a necessary step to restore order. Club president Pablo Longoria reportedly described the incident to staff as “incredible, violent and aggressive,” and De Zerbi added that bodyguards had to intervene to separate the players.

“I saw the doctor trying to wake up the other player on the ground,” De Zerbi stated. “I could have pretended not to see anything, but I’m not going to lose my dignity just to win the championship.”

The situation intensified after Veronique Rabiot, the midfielder’s mother, publicly criticized De Zerbi for the decision, contrasting it with the club’s previous handling of Mason Greenwood.

De Zerbi dismissed her comments, saying, “The mother has forgotten two things: I decided to make him captain… And in one year, I gave her son more attention and affection than I did my own son. We’re talking about a fight in a workplace. It’s not fair to talk about other people.”