Karl Toko Ekambi on booing by Lyon fans: “It’s always the same profiles who are targeted.” | OneFootball

Having joined Rennes during the January transfer window, Cameroon international forward Karl Toko Ekambi has discussed the criticism – and sometimes abuse – levelled at him by supporters at his former club Lyon in an interview with So Foot.

The former Angers man joined Les Gones from Villarreal in 2020, and scored 14 and 12 goals respectively in his two full Ligue 1 seasons at the club. In the first half of the current campaign, though, the 30-year-old increasingly became the target of fans’ ire – having already been targeted in previous seasons – with the rift continuing to grow until his final appearance with Lyon, a defeat to Strasbourg in January, saw him storm down the tunnel and kick a bin over after being substituted off.

Toko Ekambi notably hits back at what he sees as an unwarranted reputation as a player lacking in technique, pointing out that the label only came during his time at Lyon, not before. He adds that it was his decision to leave Lyon – against his manager’s wishes – and that he had several offers on the table, including from Celta Vigo as well as in England. He joined the Bretons on a loan deal with no permanent option.

The winger also laments the lack of support from the club in the face of booing from supporters – whose opinion he says he “doesn’t care” about. He also appears to insinuate another reason for certain players being booed at Lyon:

“Strangely, those who are targeted aren’t those from Lyon. I won’t say the strong word that I’m thinking of, but there you go… It’s always the same profiles who are targeted.”

“[Interviewer: Houssem Aouar is from Lyon, he was born in the city and came up through the academy, but he’s also criticised] He’s from the club, but he’s something else too.”

“[Interviewer: What do you mean? Are you insinuating that it’s racism?] The problem is that it’s always the same profiles who are targeted. Maxwel Cornet, Bertrand Traoré, etc.”

“[Interviewer: Were you explicitly a victim of racism at Lyon?] I never said that word. You’re the one who’s analysing it. It’s always the same profiles who are targeted at Lyon, that’s it. And it’s the truth. But let them do what they want, it’s their problem. Honestly, it’s behind me now.”

Toko Ekambi goes on to explain that he did receive support from president Jean-Michel Aulas and coach Laurent Blanc in the face of what he calls “a gang of savages” in the stands who would insult his mother during games. However, he adds that certain people at the club tried to get him fined for the bin-kicking incident – “they are not men”, “it shows they are against me”  – without naming names.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin