The 36-year-old Gabon striker was left out of Marseille’s squad for Sunday’s Ligue 1 trip to Le Havre after events during the club’s enforced stay at the Robert Louis-Dreyfus training centre.
Marseille’s hierarchy had ordered players to remain at La Commanderie this week following a miserable run of form that has left their hopes of European qualification hanging in the balance.
Reports in France claim Aubameyang led a late-night gathering involving around 10 players on the fourth evening of the camp, with the atmosphere inside the complex later described as descending into chaos.
Bob Tahri, who had been overseeing curfew rules on behalf of sporting director Medhi Benatia, was allegedly sprayed with a fire extinguisher, along with his bed and personal belongings.
Tahri, a former world championship silver medallist in the steeplechase, is understood to have immediately reported the incident to senior club figures.
“I just wanted to liven things up.”
That was reportedly Aubameyang’s explanation after later apologising for the incident, but the striker was still sanctioned and removed from the travelling squad.
The former Arsenal captain has scored nine league goals this season and remains one of Marseille’s most experienced figures, making the punishment all the more striking inside an already tense dressing room.
Marseille’s form has collapsed in recent weeks, with just one league win since mid-March and pressure growing on head coach Habib Beye to salvage something from the campaign.
What was meant to restore discipline has instead exposed just how fragile things have become inside one of France’s biggest clubs.