RC Strasbourg Alsace recently played their inaugural match following the confirmed transfer of Emanuel Emegha (22) to Chelsea. Although the Dutch forward did not participate in Sunday`s 1-0 triumph over Le Havre AC, secured by a late Joaquin Panichelli penalty at the Meinau, he nevertheless became the focus of intense criticism from the club`s supporters.
Emegha, who had previously been handed the captain`s armband earlier in the summer after Habib Diarra’s departure, was targeted by a strongly worded banner displayed by Strasbourg ultras behind the goal. The message conveyed:
“Emegha, pawn of BlueCo, after changing your shirt, give back your armband.”
Following the match, manager Liam Rosenior publicly expressed his strong disapproval of the fans` conduct, stating his “disappointment” and revealing that the incident had left his captain feeling “devastated.”
While Emegha`s move to fellow BlueCo-owned club Chelsea was finalized last week, his official transfer to Stamford Bridge is not anticipated until the upcoming season. The deep-seated resentment among Strasbourg fans appears to be largely fueled by their significant opposition to the multi-club ownership model.
In defense of his teammate, former Chelsea player Diego Moreira voiced his profound regret over the situation. “I find it a shame,” Moreira commented. “His initial season here was challenging, but in his second, he truly demonstrated his abilities to the fans, who were genuinely pleased with his performance. It`s also thanks to him that we secured qualification for the Europa Conference League. He even played through injuries; he is a fighter.”
Moreira further emphasized Emegha`s continued dedication:
“I don’t understand why they want him to leave immediately. Yes, he has signed for Chelsea, but he is still here; he fights for the team, and he is the club captain. You simply cannot treat him this way.”
