Former Liverpool star Mamadou Sakho ‘faces the SACK’ after he ‘grabbed his manager by the collar and knocked him to the ground’ in a post-training fight over ungiven foul at Montpellier

Former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho reportedly attacked Montpellier  manager Michel Der Zakarian after training on Tuesday evening, and is now at risk of being sacked by the French club.

The 33-year-old had an eight-year stay in the Premier League, spending four of those at Anfield before leaving the Reds to join Crystal Palace in 2017.

He moved back to France to sign for Montpellier in 2021, but his days at the Ligue 1 outfit could be numbered after a furious exchange with the team’s manager.

According to L’Equipe, Sakho grabbed Der Zakarian by the collar and knocked him to the ground in front of several witnesses during a training ground bust-up.

The confrontation was sparked when Sakho was not given a foul by Der Zakarian during training, and proceeded to leave the training pitch.

Sakho is alleged to have knocked Michel Der Zakarian to the ground in a furious confrontation

Der Zakarian is alleged to have responded to Sakho walking off by the telling the 29-cap French international that the session was ‘not à la carte’.

This remark angered Sakho who reacted by knocking Der Zakarian to the ground. Players and staff members quickly stepped in to prevent the situation escalating further, while Der Zakarian was left furious, banging on the walls and doors to let his frustration out.

Neither Sakho nor Der Zakarian were willing to speak further on the matter to L’Equipe, but the former could now face serious punishment for his behaviour.

Sakho could potentially be dismissed for serious misconduct if the club find that he acted inappropriately.

He was told he was no longer part of Der Zakarian’s plans in the summer, but was unable to get a transfer elsewhere.

The Frenchman has made just one brief substitute appearance in the league this term and that could yet prove to be his final outing for the club.

Sakho, who spent four years at Liverpool between 2013 and 2017, could be sacked by Montpellier

Montpellier have had a difficult start to the season having picked up just nine points from their opening eight games to leave them 14th in the table.

They also had a match against Clermont Foot abandoned earlier this month after the opposition goalkeeper was targeted by a firecracker thrown by supporters.

Clermont Foot goalkeeper Mory Diaw was carried off, while his team-mate Neto Borges was then shown a red card for giving a middle finger gesture to the Montpellier fans. 

The game was called off in added time, and Montpellier are set to learn the sanctions they will face for their fans’ behaviour shortly.