Noah Okafor in fresh controversy after Switzerland exit as new details emerge | OneFootball

Noah Okafor is back under scrutiny in Switzerland days after stepping away from the national team, despite scoring in Leeds United’s 4-1 win over Newcastle. The £18 million forward has equalled the record for most Premier League goals by a Swiss player in a single season.

He aimed a sly dig at head coach Murat Yakin on Instagram after the victory at Elland Road on Monday, 14 September. Allegations of off-pitch flashpoints preceding Euro 2024 have since surfaced in Switzerland, with Nau.ch publishing claims and Blick carrying a denial from Okafor’s representatives.

The rift had been building before Euro 2024, when Yakin left him on the bench throughout over concerns about training intensity. Okafor then bypassed the manager to meet Swiss FA director Pierluigi Tami, was frozen out, then held brief clear-the-air talks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

One claim centres on Okafor’s 26th birthday party at Zurich venue Fischer’s Fritz on 25 May, where restaurateur Michel Peclard says staff and the manager were confronted by five members of the player’s entourage after a dispute over table decorations and cooler space. His camp has rejected that account, saying the event was a surprise not arranged by him, denying any late-night confrontation and insisting the venue manager later contacted his sister to apologise for service issues.

Further reporting outlines more friction, including Okafor travelling with a personal video crew to the USA during the World Cup, and a 19-minute outing against Algeria that ended with Yakin berating him in the 94th minute over a minor mistake. Although Okafor said he quit due to broken trust and a lack of respect, some reports indicate the federation and Yakin were preparing to drop him and that this was why he announced his exit for the time being. He has received supportive messages from teammates such as Granit Xhaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Daniel Farke now has a forward fully focused on Leeds United’s Premier League campaign.

Source: Leedsunited.news

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