PSG's Serge Aurier “saves life” of Mali player

In the match between the two African nations in the World Cup qualifiers, Doumbia was knocked unconscious after a challenge by Ivory Coast's Lamine Kone. While the players around him realized that he was choking, Aurier moved in and saved the unconscious player from swallowing his tongue.

Mali's manager Alain Giresse said, "All the players realised that Doumbia was choking and was about to swallow his tongue," reported French radio station RMC.

"That's when Aurier, with one of our players, quickly put him on his side and pulled out his tongue, because he was about to lose his life," he added.

Giresse also revealed that he had thanked the Ivorian for his "superb reactions".

However, Aurier, being Aurier, later stoked a new controversy by making a throat-slit gesture at the crowd later in the game after Ivory Coast scored their last goal in their 3-1 win.