Paris police extend Aurier detention

Paris - Paris Saint-Germain star Serge Aurier will spend at least another 24 hours in police custody after he was detained for clashing with an officer outside a nightclub, police sources said Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international, who has regularly been in trouble with his club, is alleged to have "insulted and hit a police officer", one source told AFP.

Informed sources told AFP that Aurier was contesting the police version of events, saying that he had been the victim of aggressive police behaviour and had sustained cuts to his forehead and mouth

The incident occurred as Aurier was the subject of a police control when his Porsche Cayenne was causing traffic problems after he left a nightclub, a source told AFP.

Aurier was "aggressive" and "quite contemptuous" when police tried to breathalyse him. It was then he allegedly "elbowed" the policeman in the throat.

The footballer has been held at a police station near the Champs Elysees for "deliberate violence against a person of public authority", the source added.

PSG briefly suspended Aurier in February after he appeared in a video insulting club coach Laurent Blanc. Aurier later admitted he had carried out a "stupid mistake" and apologised.

With an estimated transfer value of between €20-25 million, Aurier had been a key element of the capital club's drive towards a new French league title and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The right back is under contract with the club until June 2019.

Paris Saint-Germain has confirmed that Aurier was in custody, but made no other comment on the matter.