FORMER Celtic defender Bobo Balde was last night taken to an emergency psychiatric unit in Marseille for ‘disturbing’ comments he made outside a school.
The Celtic hero had reportedly left parents and staff worried when he made ‘threatening’ remarks outside Ecole Accates la Valentine, a public primary school located in his home city Marseille.
David Henderson – The Sun GlasgowBobo Balde playing for Celtic[/caption]
Kenny Ramsay – The Sun GlasgowHe was a cult hero at Parkhead[/caption]
Balde pictured on scene
La Provence claim Balde turned up at the school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and was taken away by cops and admitted to a psychiatric ward yesterday.
It’s reported the Hoops legend was deliberately hit by a car and punched in the face by a parent after frightening those in the vicinity.
Balde was said to have been preaching about a ‘mission’ he plans to carry out before he dies and was left injured by witnesses and had to be treated by firefighters on scene.
The former Guinean international was questioned by cops as a victim after being hit by the car and struck in the face.
A police source said: “He’s a very nice person, but he started to make somewhat incoherent remarks, even at the police station.
“But he did not wish to file a complaint, stating that his behavior may have worried the parents of the students.”
Balde does not have any kids at the school and police were deployed at the school to reassure parents and staff following Tuesday’s incident.
He was seen again on Wednesday and Thursday, before cops were called in to arrest him.
But given his appearance, Balde was reportedly taken to the psychiatric emergency room at Timone Hospital.
It’s being reported that the former defender appeared as if he was in a daze, making claims about the future and stating he ‘had things to do’ in a worrying declaration.
Balde, now 49, was ordered away from the scene by local mayor Sylvain Souvestre who deployed police officers to the school.
Balde was a cult hero at Parkhead after spending eight seasons with Celtic, winning 10 trophies.
He made 232 appearances for the Hoops and helped them win three league titles, a Scottish Cup and two League Cups.
He was famously sent off in the final of the 2003 Uefa Cup final against Porto.
Bobo Balde’s career
1995-1999 – Marseille, zero appearances
1997-1998 – Mulhouse (Loan), 38 appearances, one goal
1998-1999 – Cannes (Loan), 30 appearances, four goals
1999-2001 – Toulouse, 58 appearances, one goal
2001-2009 – Celtic, 232 appearances, 16 goals
2009-2011 – Valenciennes, 28 appearances, one goal
2011-2013 – Arles-Avignon, 41 appearances, zero goals
International level: Guinea, 52 caps, two goals
The towering centre-back was born in Marseille, France but opted to represent the Guinea national team.
He was capped 52 times by Guinea, scoring two goals.
Balde started his career at Marseille and played for Toulouse, Valenciennes and Arles-Avignon, with loan spells at Mulhouse and Cannes earlier in his career.
He was a coach at CA Gombertois in Marseille after retiring between 2014 and 2019, then took over as manager of the Guinea Under-20s team between 2019 and 2021.
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