Prank gone wrong? Aubameyang dropped after fire extinguisher incident against former steeplechase star

It is not a good prank if both parties are not laughing at the end, and Gabon International Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had to learn that the hard way after his attempt to 'liven up things' in camp went terribly wrong.

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The ex-Arsenal star has been dropped from the Marseille squad for the match against Le Havre, set for Sunday, 10 May, after spraying 2009 World steeplechase bronze medalist Bob Tahri, now a club staff member responsible for enforcing curfew rules during the team's camp, with a fire extinguisher on Thursday.

Leading a group of about 10 boisterous players, Aubameyang is said to have caused a joyful commotion in several rooms, seemingly without meaning any harm.

The problem arose when he used a fire extinguisher to spray Tahri's bed and personal belongings. The former 3000m steeplechase star took it very badly and reported the incident to the higher-ups at the Marseille club.

The two co-presidents, interim president Alban Juster and incoming president Stéphane Richard, met with the squad on Friday at midday to understand the situation before sanctioning Aubameyang, who will therefore be left out of the squad for OM's trip to Le Havre.

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The 36-year-old Gabon international is reported to have apologised to Tahri and the management, stating that he only wanted to 'liven things up'.

Aubameyang is the Ligue 1 side’s second-highest goalscorer with 13 in all competitions, but has only registered one in his last nine games as Habib Beye’s team have struggled for form.

Marseille are seventh in Ligue 1 and are fighting to qualify for European football. The French side are one point off Monaco in sixth with only two games left to play.

Sixth place will earn qualification to the Conference League, fifth will see Marseille enter the Europa League, while the top four places will see them into next season’s Champions League.

Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 last season under Roberto De Zerbi, but the Italian left by mutual consent in February and was subsequently appointed by Tottenham Hotspur.

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This season, they were not able to progress out of the league phase of the Champions League and under Beye, they have only won once in their last six games. Their final two games are against 14th-placed Le Havre and European football contenders Rennes.