Koffi Kouao reacted angrily to his omission from FC Metz’s starting line-up and disrupted the pre-match warm-up before the team’s 1–0 home loss to Rennes.
The Ivorian full-back sat on a ball during the warm-up session and refused every attempt to involve him.
One assistant coach urged him to rejoin the group and sections of the crowd booed, yet Kouao ignored both reactions.
The 27-year-old made his frustration clear after playing every match for Metz since the start of the season.
Kouao declined every request from teammates and staff to complete his warm-up routine and maintained his stance until the halftime break.
Metz coach Stéphane Le Mignan chose not to escalate the confrontation and focused instead on calming the situation.
He understood Kouao’s disappointment but stood by his tactical call to rotate the squad.
Le Mignan explained his reasoning after the match.
“I decided not to play him because he has featured in every match this season,” the coach said. “He performed well, but I didn’t feel he suited the game plan last week.
I wanted a different balance, both defensively and offensively. I understand his frustration. He plays regularly. He’ll recover quickly, and we’ll move on.”
The coach adjusted his starting eleven for Matchday 14 to introduce fresh options, but Kouao’s refusal to warm up placed the club in another uncomfortable moment during an already fragile period.
Metz remain in the relegation zone and sit 17th with 11 points.
The club now must manage both the pressure of their league position and the internal tension created by one of their key figures since 2022.
