Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik Suspended and Fined After Training Incident: “I Accept the Punishment”
Rennes central defender Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik has been suspended until further notice and subjected to a financial penalty following a heated incident after Thursday’s training session. The 30-year-old Cameroonian international, who has been a regular feature in Rennes’ defense, addressed the controversy and his subsequent punishment after meeting with his management team.
In an interview reported by L’Equipe, Kana-Biyik reflected on the incident, acknowledging that his actions were damaging and regrettable. “It’s very damaging, regrettable. We should never have reached a situation like this,” he said. “I’m a professional player. I should have kept my calm, not lost my temper. And then, I reacted like a man.”
While the defender accepted responsibility for his behavior, he also explained that the insults directed at him had crossed a line. “There are insults, when they target me personally, it doesn’t bother me, but this time we went beyond that. They exceeded my tolerance threshold. Their comments were inappropriate. The punishment is normal, I accept it,” Kana-Biyik admitted. “Over the last few days, I haven’t been exemplary.”
Kana-Biyik was quick to acknowledge the disappointment felt by both the Rennes fans and himself after the team’s elimination from the Coupe de France, a defeat that stung deeply. “They have to understand that I’m not happy to have lost the Coupe de France. I’m the first to be sad, angry about it. I know how happy it would have been for the public. This defeat, like them, I don’t understand it, I can’t explain it, especially when we see that we were capable of playing an extraordinary match against Paris four days later (2-1). But that’s part of the sport.”
The former Toulouse defender also addressed the negative perception that some have of him, particularly following the incident. “This bad boy image isn’t new. People judge me based on my appearance without really knowing me,” he said. “All it takes is tattoos, wearing a cap, a nice car, and listening to Booba to immediately be perceived badly. I’ve always tried to be as simple, humble, and accessible as possible.”
Kana-Biyik’s suspension and financial penalty serve as a reminder of the pressures professional athletes face and the importance of maintaining composure both on and off the field. While the incident has cast a shadow on his reputation, the Cameroonian international seems determined to learn from the situation and move forward with renewed focus.
