Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier has had what kindly biographers would term a 'colourful' career of late.
Last season during a live Q&A session with fans on Periscope, he aimed homophobic insults at his then PSG boss Laurent Blanc and team-mates Zlatan Ibrahimovic, goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and full-back Gregory Van der Wiel - all of which earned him a suspension from the club.
Then in September he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer outside of a nightclub in Paris. He was sentenced to two months in prison but is yet to serve them, pending appeal.
And this weekend he courted controversy again when his Ivory Coast side beat Mali 3-1 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, by celebrating a goal with a throat-slitting gesture.
Nice.
But it has emerged that far from being the villain of the piece in that match, he actually stepped in to save the life of one of his opponents during the game.
Mali striker Moussa Doumbia collapsed after a clash of heads with Sunderland defender Lamine Kone. He suffered a fit and had swallowed his tongue before Aurier acted.
https://youtu.be/rdjcRsDk3HQ
The PSG right-back pulled out Doumbia's tongue and moved him on to his side.
Mali coach Alain Giresse thanked Aurier on French radio station RMC.
“Serge Aurier, along with one of our players, had the presence of mind to quickly put him (Doumbia) on his side and to use his hand to pull his tongue out as he was dying," he said.
“It was an incredible reaction from Aurier. I spoke to him afterwards and I even thanked him for his cool head.”
Mali boss Fousseni Diawara added: “Doumbia fell and was swallowing his own tongue and Serge was one of the first to arrive and help.
“There is one thing nobody is talking about, which is the manner in which he helped a Malian on the pitch.”
Bravo, Serge. bravo.
If this all sounds quite familiar it is because Georgian captain Guram Kashia
performed similar heroics after Robbie Brady clashed heads with Solomon Kverkvelia in last week's World Cup qualifier at Aviva Stadium.
Great to see so many professional footballers have the awareness and first aid skills to react in these situations.
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour, Wooly chats to new Meath boss Andy McEntee about the flawed Dublin Championship and catches up with new Clare joint manager Donal Moloney. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
